Home›Majors›Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology

DOCTORAL DEGREE · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 2613

Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology: is this doctoral degree worth it?

National picture across 8 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$93,831 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.

$93,831Median year-4 earnings

$17,171Average institution net-price context

Not availableMedian federal debt

Use your actual price and alternative earnings before evaluating return. Model your own starting point →

WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$93,831Median reported earnings · year 4

$119,048Average reported earnings · year 5

Not availableMedian federal debt

35thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential

8Reporting programs

8With year-4 earnings

COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

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

63 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $84,573
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 23

23 report earnings →CURRENT VIEW

Doctoral Degree

Year-4 earnings: $93,831
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 8

8 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

First Professional Degree

Year-4 earnings: $74,229
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 1

1 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Graduate/Professional Certificate

Year-4 earnings: $96,679
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 2

2 report earnings →

COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

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$76,183National median$93,83175th percentile$113,327

8 programs report year‑4 earnings.

WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1Harvard University$185,905 2Johns Hopkins University$117,823 3University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill$113,327 4Colorado State University-Fort Collins$96,987 5University of California, Irvine$90,675 6University of California, Davis$85,764 7Michigan State University$76,183 8University of California, Santa Cruz$70,373

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

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

BEST COLLEGES FOR ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, SYSTEMATICS, AND POPULATION BIOLOGY

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 UniversityDoctoral Degree	Cambridge, MA	$185,905	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,066
2	Johns Hopkins UniversityDoctoral Degree	Baltimore, MD	$117,823	Not available	Baseline needed	$18,809
3	University of North Carolina at Chapel HillDoctoral Degree	Chapel Hill, NC	$113,327	Not available	Baseline needed	$11,655
4	Colorado State University-Fort CollinsDoctoral Degree	Fort Collins, CO	$96,987	Not available	Baseline needed	$21,279
5	University of California, IrvineDoctoral Degree	Irvine, CA	$90,675	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,251
6	University of California, DavisDoctoral Degree	Davis, CA	$85,764	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,741
7	Michigan State UniversityDoctoral Degree	East Lansing, MI	$76,183	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,680
8	University of California, Santa CruzDoctoral Degree	Santa Cruz, CA	$70,373	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,890

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.