Biotechnology: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 15 reporting college programs.
$113,231 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
Observed national outcomes
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $76,622
- Federal debt
- $20,618
- Reporting programs
- 19
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $87,068
- Federal debt
- $22,000
- Reporting programs
- 1
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $113,231
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 15
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Harvard University$155,2192Brown University$151,9443Georgetown University$126,3614Northeastern University$125,1795Northeastern University Professional Programs$125,1796Johns Hopkins University$123,9947North Carolina State University at Raleigh$117,6498University of Maryland Global Campus$113,2319California State University, Channel Islands$110,84510Temple University$99,847Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard UniversityMaster's Degree | Cambridge, MA | $155,219 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,066 |
| 2 | Brown UniversityMaster's Degree | Providence, RI | $151,944 | Not available | Baseline needed | $25,184 |
| 3 | Georgetown UniversityMaster's Degree | Washington, DC | $126,361 | Not available | Baseline needed | $40,815 |
| 4 | Northeastern UniversityMaster's Degree | Boston, MA | $125,179 | Not available | Baseline needed | $30,915 |
| 5 | Northeastern University Professional ProgramsMaster's Degree | Boston, MA | $125,179 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 6 | Johns Hopkins UniversityMaster's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $123,994 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,809 |
| 7 | North Carolina State University at RaleighMaster's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $117,649 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,303 |
| 8 | University of Maryland Global CampusMaster's Degree | Adelphi, MD | $113,231 | Not available | Baseline needed | $22,063 |
| 9 | California State University, Channel IslandsMaster's Degree | Camarillo, CA | $110,845 | Not available | Baseline needed | $9,849 |
| 10 | Temple UniversityMaster's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $99,847 | Not available | Baseline needed | $28,198 |
| 11 | California State University, San MarcosMaster's Degree | San Marcos, CA | $92,859 | Not available | Baseline needed | $10,229 |
| 12 | Rush UniversityMaster's Degree | Chicago, IL | $85,207 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 13 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonMaster's Degree | Madison, WI | $83,354 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,354 |
| 14 | University of Alabama at BirminghamMaster's Degree | Birmingham, AL | $65,277 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,749 |
| 15 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusMaster's Degree | Denver, CO | $63,591 | Not available | Baseline needed | $11,900 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.