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Biology, General bachelor's degree outcomes at Luther College

Decorah, IA · Private nonprofit · Federal field 2601

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are notably above the same-degree benchmark.

$6,784 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
42.2% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
$2,495 / year
10-year scenario
−30% · Negative payoff
Price evidence
College-wide context only
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+115%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$29,359$63,171
Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
61Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
61Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$23,097

Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$27,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$63,998

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$286/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$23,097Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$65,461Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE71.5%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE71.1%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$29,359Year 1
$63,998Year 4
$63,171Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.4% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$5,333
Estimated loan payment$286
61borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$63,998 vs. $57,214

$6,784 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for—not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$78,060 median wageIA estimate · 540 jobs · 25-1042+7.3% projected U.S. growth · 4.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBiological Technicians$48,050 median wageIA estimate · 800 jobs · 19-4021+7.4% projected U.S. growth · 9.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNatural Sciences Managers$109,760 median wageIA estimate · 610 jobs · 11-9121+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$83,850 median wageIA estimate · 1,060 jobs · 19-1042+12.6% projected U.S. growth · 10.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBiological Scientists, All Other$82,720 median wageIA estimate · 550 jobs · 19-1029+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 4.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeForensic Science Technicians$67,060 median wageIA estimate · 130 jobs · 19-4092+13.3% projected U.S. growth · 2.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeLife Scientists, All Other$64,270 median wageIA estimate · 110 jobs · 19-1099+6.3% projected U.S. growth · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAgricultural Technicians$64,070 median wageIA estimate · 15,130 jobs · 19-4012+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 2.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$61,200 median wageIA estimate · 12,310 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFood Science Technicians$50,740 median wageIA estimate · 420 jobs · 19-4013+4.8% projected U.S. growth · 3k openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degree
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Des Moines, IA

Grand View University

$2,625 higher earnings · $1,000 less debt · $1,323 lower annual net price

Earnings
$66,623
Debt
$26,000
Annual net price
$21,774
View outcomes →
Fayette, IA

Upper Iowa University

$112 higher earnings · $2,155 lower annual net price

Earnings
$64,110
Debt
$27,000
Annual net price
$20,942
View outcomes →
Cedar Falls, IA

University of Northern Iowa

$5,500 less debt · $7,196 lower annual net price

Earnings
$62,391
Debt
$21,500
Annual net price
$15,901
View outcomes →
Iowa City, IA

University of Iowa

$1,488 less debt · $566 lower annual net price

Earnings
$60,450
Debt
$25,512
Annual net price
$22,531
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

61 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

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