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Biology, General bachelor's degree outcomes at Black Hills State University

Spearfish, SD · Public · 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 trail the same-degree benchmark.

$16,247 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
65.0% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−117% · 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.

Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$33,518Not available
Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
39Borrowers 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$15,911

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

02 · BORROWING$26,613

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$40,967

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$282/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$15,911Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$21,277Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE96.3%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE42.6%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.

$33,518Year 1
$40,967Year 4
Not availableYear 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

8.3% 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$3,414
Estimated loan payment$282
39borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$40,967 vs. $57,214

$16,247 below 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$76,570 median wageSD estimate · 160 jobs · 25-1042+7.3% projected U.S. growth · 4.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBiological Technicians$41,300 median wageSD estimate · 230 jobs · 19-4021+7.4% projected U.S. growth · 9.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNatural Sciences Managers$128,140 median wageSD estimate · 180 jobs · 11-9121+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeLife Scientists, All Other$93,750 median wageU.S. estimate · 7,460 jobs · 19-1099+6.3% projected U.S. growth · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$80,890 median wageSD estimate · 140 jobs · 19-1042+12.6% projected U.S. growth · 10.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBiological Scientists, All Other$73,920 median wageSD estimate · 170 jobs · 19-1029+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 4.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeForensic Science Technicians$51,690 median wageSD estimate · 30 jobs · 19-4092+13.3% projected U.S. growth · 2.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$51,050 median wageSD estimate · 3,360 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFood Science Technicians$48,760 median wageSD estimate · 100 jobs · 19-4013+4.8% projected U.S. growth · 3k openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeAgricultural Technicians$41,420 median wageSD estimate · 350 jobs · 19-4012+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 2.8k 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.

Aberdeen, SD

Northern State University

$29,578 higher earnings · $1,313 less debt · $99 lower annual net price

Earnings
$70,545
Debt
$25,300
Annual net price
$15,812
View outcomes →
Sioux Falls, SD

Augustana University

$26,663 higher earnings · $613 less debt

Earnings
$67,630
Debt
$26,000
Annual net price
$23,894
View outcomes →
Vermillion, SD

University of South Dakota

$17,132 higher earnings · $3,363 less debt

Earnings
$58,099
Debt
$23,250
Annual net price
$19,858
View outcomes →
Brookings, SD

South Dakota State University

$13,479 higher earnings

Earnings
$54,446
Debt
$27,000
Annual net price
$19,841
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

Not reported 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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