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Biology, General bachelor's degree outcomes at Mercyhurst University

Erie, PA · 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.

$7,786 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
41.5% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
$5,000 / year
10-year scenario
−22% · Negative payoff
Price evidence
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

What stays fixed$65,000 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+156%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$29,167$74,759
Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
41Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
41Borrowers 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$19,444

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$65,000

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$19,444Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$59,557Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE81.0%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE60.2%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.

$29,167Year 1
$65,000Year 4
$74,759Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.3% 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$5,417
Estimated loan payment$286
41borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$65,000 vs. $57,214

$7,786 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$85,970 median wagePA estimate · 2,410 jobs · 25-1042+7.3% projected U.S. growth · 4.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBiological Technicians$54,950 median wagePA estimate · 2,820 jobs · 19-4021+7.4% projected U.S. growth · 9.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNatural Sciences Managers$137,900 median wagePA estimate · 7,980 jobs · 11-9121+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBiological Scientists, All Other$100,780 median wagePA estimate · 1,810 jobs · 19-1029+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 4.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$99,190 median wagePA estimate · 12,630 jobs · 19-1042+12.6% projected U.S. growth · 10.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeLife Scientists, All Other$83,680 median wagePA estimate · 290 jobs · 19-1099+6.3% projected U.S. growth · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$78,800 median wagePA estimate · 52,240 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeForensic Science Technicians$61,580 median wagePA estimate · 360 jobs · 19-4092+13.3% projected U.S. growth · 2.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAgricultural Technicians$48,800 median wagePA estimate · 110 jobs · 19-4012+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 2.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeFood Science Technicians$48,060 median wagePA estimate · 590 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.

Philadelphia, PA

La Salle University

$8,920 higher earnings · $375 less debt · $35 lower annual net price

Earnings
$73,920
Debt
$26,625
Annual net price
$19,409
View outcomes →
York, PA

York College of Pennsylvania

$2,444 higher earnings · $88 less debt · $888 lower annual net price

Earnings
$67,444
Debt
$26,912
Annual net price
$18,556
View outcomes →
Lewisburg, PA

Bucknell University

$20,687 higher earnings · $328 less debt

Earnings
$85,687
Debt
$26,672
Annual net price
$40,766
View outcomes →
Allentown, PA

Muhlenberg College

$18,215 higher earnings · $2,612 less debt

Earnings
$83,215
Debt
$24,388
Annual net price
$28,905
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

41 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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