Human Biology: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 12 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Positive payoff
+$1,425 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
The estimate clears the cost within ten years, though your price and time to finish may change the result.
9.9 yrsModeled economic break-even
+1%Modeled 10-year ROI
$69,751Observed earnings · year 4
$16,878Maximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
The price benchmark is $356 per year below this threshold.
Includes direct price and earnings forgone while studying. Assumes $45,000 in alternative annual earnings and no wage growth. How we calculate itObserved national outcomes
$69,751Median reported earnings · year 4
$67,740Average reported earnings · year 5
$17,313Median federal debt
62thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
1IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
9With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 1 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
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$60,949National median$69,75175th percentile$70,399
9 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
12 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1CUNY Hunter College$83,4202Stanford University$81,5293University of Kansas$70,3994Brown University$69,8025University of Southern California$69,7516University of California, Los Angeles$66,4967University of Washington-Seattle Campus$60,9498University of Wisconsin-Green Bay$56,1179Hamline University$48,48310University of California, IrvineNot availableObserved year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Natural Sciences Managers$167,220 median wage108,690 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9121+8.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 9.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$79,710–$316,850 10th–90th percentileSocial Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$101,110 median wage37,100 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-3099-0.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 2.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$66,120–$160,300 10th–90th percentileBiological Scientists, All Other$98,920 median wage55,850 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-1029+4.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 4.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$60,430–$168,010 10th–90th percentileBiological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$84,620 median wage50,190 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1042+7.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 4.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$52,150–$169,900 10th–90th percentileSocial Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other$72,990 median wage16,580 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1069+1.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$40,670–$164,420 10th–90th percentileAnthropologists and Archeologists$70,770 median wage8,990 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-3091+6.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Master's degree$49,050–$108,060 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUNY Hunter CollegeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $83,420 | $11,000 | +100% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Stanford UniversityBachelor's Degree | Stanford, CA | $81,529 | $12,500 | +55% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | University of KansasBachelor's Degree | Lawrence, KS | $70,399 | $26,584 | +1% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Brown UniversityBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $69,802 | $16,500 | -12% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | University of Southern CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $69,751 | $14,500 | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | University of California, Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $66,496 | $12,500 | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $60,949 | $18,125 | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | University of Wisconsin-Green BayBachelor's Degree | Green Bay, WI | $56,117 | $21,121 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Hamline UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $48,483 | $25,500 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | University of California, IrvineBachelor's Degree | Irvine, CA | Not available | $20,900 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $14,251 |
| 11 | Indiana University-IndianapolisBachelor's Degree | Indianapolis, IN | Not available | $21,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $11,668 |
| 12 | Johns Hopkins UniversityBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | Not available | $12,138 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $18,809 |
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.