Pharmacology and Toxicology: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 5 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Negative payoff
−$41,364 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.
With these assumptions, the added earnings do not recover the cost within ten years.
12.1 yrsModeled economic break-even
−18%Modeled 10-year ROI
$64,445Observed earnings · year 4
$3,613Maximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
The price benchmark would need to fall by $10,341 per year to reach it.
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
$64,445Median reported earnings · year 4
$90,190Average reported earnings · year 5
$18,000Median federal debt
52thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
5With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 0 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
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.
CURRENT VIEW
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $64,445
- Federal debt
- $18,000
- Reporting programs
- 5
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $110,091
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $180,229
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $136,194
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
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$63,567National median$64,44575th percentile$69,306
5 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.
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP
Where colleges sit for this exact degree
Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.
$69,306Observed year-4 earnings$48,837
University of California, Santa Barbara$16,109 price · $98,462 earningsCUNY York College$4,456 price · $69,306 earningsUniversity at Buffalo$20,995 price · $64,445 earningsUniversity of California, Davis$14,741 price · $63,567 earningsUniversity of Louisiana at Monroe$13,466 price · $48,837 earnings
$4,456Annual college-wide average net price$16,109
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.
5 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of California, Santa Barbara$98,4622CUNY York College$69,3063University at Buffalo$64,4454University of California, Davis$63,5675University of Louisiana at Monroe$48,837Observed 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 →21%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$107,310 median wage221,270 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1071+17.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 24.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$59,270–$322,020 10th–90th percentileMedical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$103,410 median wage172,340 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-1042+12.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 10.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$64,800–$177,780 10th–90th percentileEnvironmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$82,220 median wage89,250 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-2041+6.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 7.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$52,520–$140,010 10th–90th percentileNatural 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 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 percentileOccupational Health and Safety Specialists$90,150 median wage140,610 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-5011+18.5% projected employment, 2025–35 · 17.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$55,000–$134,950 10th–90th percentileOccupational Health and Safety Technicians$61,560 median wage30,590 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-5012+19.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$46,280–$100,160 10th–90th percentileEnvironmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians$59,920 median wage12,190 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-3025+3.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Associate's degree$39,910–$96,660 10th–90th percentileEnvironmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$55,090 median wage34,670 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-4042+6.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 5.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Associate's degree$38,170–$94,160 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 | University of California, Santa BarbaraBachelor's Degree | Santa Barbara, CA | $98,462 | $14,500 | +119% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | CUNY York CollegeBachelor's Degree | Jamaica, NY | $69,306 | Not available | +23% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | University at BuffaloBachelor's Degree | Buffalo, NY | $64,445 | $23,503 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | University of California, DavisBachelor's Degree | Davis, CA | $63,567 | $11,811 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | University of Louisiana at MonroeBachelor's Degree | Monroe, LA | $48,837 | $21,500 | -84% | Negative payoff |
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.