Natural Sciences: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 15 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$213,044 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.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
64.3 yrsModeled economic break-even
−84%Modeled 10-year ROI
$48,922Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$48,922Median reported earnings · year 4
$58,540Average reported earnings · year 5
$25,054Median federal debt
18thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
15Reporting programs
13With 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
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $53,484
- Federal debt
- $10,599
- Reporting programs
- 5
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $48,922
- Federal debt
- $25,054
- Reporting programs
- 15
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,825
- 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$38,323National median$48,92275th percentile$56,555
13 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.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
15 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$95,507Federal debt$23,681Annual net price$19,0662Daemen UniversityAmherst, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$76,980Federal debt$27,000Annual net price$18,6933Kansas State UniversityManhattan, KS · PublicYear-4 earnings$68,243Federal debt$20,500Annual net price$19,4064Dominican UniversityRiver Forest, IL · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$56,555Federal debt$25,054Annual net price$11,7455Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles, CA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$56,124Federal debt$26,000Annual net price$48,3816California State University, ChicoChico, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$55,102Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$14,4807Logan UniversityChesterfield, MO · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$48,922Federal debt$14,000Annual net price$20,2188University of Puerto Rico at CayeyCayey, PR · PublicYear-4 earnings$42,313Federal debt$5,500Annual net price$10,1769University of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasSan Juan, PR · PublicYear-4 earnings$39,675Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$9,17510Harrisburg University of Science and TechnologyHarrisburg, PA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$38,323Federal debt$27,000Annual net price$15,37611Christian Brothers UniversityMemphis, TN · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$36,429Federal debt$27,000Annual net price$9,85412Inter American University of Puerto Rico-MetroSan Juan, PR · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$36,327Federal debt$16,666Annual net price$9,78813Universidad del Sagrado CorazonSanturce, PR · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$23,655Federal debt$12,250Annual net price$12,92414Saint Vincent CollegeLatrobe, PA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$27,000Annual net price$23,51015Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · PublicYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$31,000Annual net price$28,198
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Harvard University$95,5072Daemen University$76,9803Kansas State University$68,2434Dominican University$56,5555Loyola Marymount University$56,1246California State University, Chico$55,1027Logan University$48,9228University of Puerto Rico at Cayey$42,3139University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras$39,67510Harrisburg University of Science and Technology$38,323Observed 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.
Life Scientists, All OtherSOC 19-1099 · 1 crosswalk linksNatural Sciences ManagersSOC 11-9121 · 1 crosswalk linksPhysical Scientists, All OtherSOC 19-2099 · 1 crosswalk linksPostsecondary Teachers, All OtherSOC 25-1199 · 1 crosswalk links
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 | Harvard UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cambridge, MA | $95,507 | $23,681 | +97% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Daemen UniversityBachelor's Degree | Amherst, NY | $76,980 | $27,000 | +26% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Kansas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Manhattan, KS | $68,243 | $20,500 | -10% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Dominican UniversityBachelor's Degree | River Forest, IL | $56,555 | $25,054 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Loyola Marymount UniversityBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $56,124 | $26,000 | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | California State University, ChicoBachelor's Degree | Chico, CA | $55,102 | Not available | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Logan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Chesterfield, MO | $48,922 | $14,000 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | University of Puerto Rico at CayeyBachelor's Degree | Cayey, PR | $42,313 | $5,500 | -112% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | University of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasBachelor's Degree | San Juan, PR | $39,675 | Not available | -125% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Harrisburg University of Science and TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Harrisburg, PA | $38,323 | $27,000 | -128% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Christian Brothers UniversityBachelor's Degree | Memphis, TN | $36,429 | $27,000 | -139% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-MetroBachelor's Degree | San Juan, PR | $36,327 | $16,666 | -140% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Universidad del Sagrado CorazonBachelor's Degree | Santurce, PR | $23,655 | $12,250 | -192% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Saint Vincent CollegeBachelor's Degree | Latrobe, PA | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $23,510 |
| 15 | Temple UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | Not available | $31,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $28,198 |
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.