Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 23 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$84,573 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.
$84,573Median year-4 earnings
$24,478Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$84,573Median reported earnings · year 4
$100,941Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
58thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
23Reporting programs
23With year-4 earnings
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.
OPEN PROFILE
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $50,106
- Federal debt
- $23,481
- Reporting programs
- 71
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $84,573
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 23
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $93,831
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 8
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $74,229
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $96,679
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
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.
Median
25th percentile$73,144National median$84,57375th percentile$96,565
23 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Pennsylvania$237,1362University of Washington-Seattle Campus$201,1683Harvard University$168,8334Columbia University in the City of New York$108,6985Johns Hopkins University$106,1496George Washington University$100,5377Boston University$96,5658Yale University$93,1639Tufts University$89,55310Drexel University$89,003Observed 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.
Biological Scientists, All OtherSOC 19-1029 · 11 crosswalk linksBiological Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1042 · 10 crosswalk linksNatural Sciences ManagersSOC 11-9121 · 6 crosswalk linksConservation ScientistsSOC 19-1031 · 5 crosswalk linksZoologists and Wildlife BiologistsSOC 19-1023 · 4 crosswalk linksEnvironmental Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1053 · 3 crosswalk linksBiological TechniciansSOC 19-4021 · 2 crosswalk linksEpidemiologistsSOC 19-1041 · 2 crosswalk linksHealth Specialties Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1071 · 2 crosswalk linksLife Scientists, All OtherSOC 19-1099 · 2 crosswalk linksForestry and Conservation Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1043 · 1 crosswalk linksMedical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsSOC 19-1042 · 1 crosswalk links
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 | University of PennsylvaniaMaster's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $237,136 | Not available | Baseline needed | $28,699 |
| 2 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusMaster's Degree | Seattle, WA | $201,168 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,091 |
| 3 | Harvard UniversityMaster's Degree | Cambridge, MA | $168,833 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,066 |
| 4 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkMaster's Degree | New York, NY | $108,698 | Not available | Baseline needed | $21,590 |
| 5 | Johns Hopkins UniversityMaster's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $106,149 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,809 |
| 6 | George Washington UniversityMaster's Degree | Washington, DC | $100,537 | Not available | Baseline needed | $36,586 |
| 7 | Boston UniversityMaster's Degree | Boston, MA | $96,565 | Not available | Baseline needed | $24,402 |
| 8 | Yale UniversityMaster's Degree | New Haven, CT | $93,163 | Not available | Baseline needed | $23,777 |
| 9 | Tufts UniversityMaster's Degree | Medford, MA | $89,553 | Not available | Baseline needed | $39,998 |
| 10 | Drexel UniversityMaster's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $89,003 | Not available | Baseline needed | $38,509 |
| 11 | Emory UniversityMaster's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $88,235 | Not available | Baseline needed | $22,585 |
| 12 | Coastal Carolina UniversityMaster's Degree | Conway, SC | $84,573 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,966 |
| 13 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMaster's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $84,522 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,778 |
| 14 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborMaster's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $80,316 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,138 |
| 15 | Tulane University of LouisianaMaster's Degree | New Orleans, LA | $77,285 | Not available | Baseline needed | $39,949 |
| 16 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonMaster's Degree | Houston, TX | $74,534 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 17 | University of MiamiMaster's Degree | Coral Gables, FL | $73,547 | Not available | Baseline needed | $37,244 |
| 18 | Texas A&M University-College StationMaster's Degree | College Station, TX | $73,144 | Not available | Baseline needed | $21,315 |
| 19 | University of California, San DiegoMaster's Degree | La Jolla, CA | $66,412 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,470 |
| 20 | Nova Southeastern UniversityMaster's Degree | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $62,655 | Not available | Baseline needed | $30,371 |
| 21 | Oklahoma State University-Main CampusMaster's Degree | Stillwater, OK | $61,509 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,447 |
| 22 | Texas State UniversityMaster's Degree | San Marcos, TX | $59,573 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,805 |
| 23 | Northeastern UniversityMaster's Degree | Boston, MA | $53,164 | Not available | Baseline needed | $30,915 |
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.