Biology, General: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Biology, General graduates earn a median $57,214 four years after finishing — $8,854/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,902/yr net price ($67,608 over four years), that pays back in about 7.6 years. Federal data pools 1,116 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 84,576 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Biology, General ranks #122 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 40% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlow University | PA | $134,677 |
| 2 | Providence College | RI | $93,757 |
| 3 | Seton Hall University | NJ | $93,200 |
| 4 | College of the Holy Cross | MA | $92,914 |
| 5 | University of Detroit Mercy | MI | $91,888 |
| 6 | Yeshiva University | NY | $90,456 |
| 7 | Marquette University | WI | $88,921 |
| 8 | Union College | NY | $87,208 |
| 9 | Dartmouth College | NH | $87,026 |
| 10 | Bucknell University | PA | $85,687 |
| 11 | Assumption University | MA | $83,706 |
| 12 | Boston College | MA | $83,614 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.
How fast does Biology, General pay grow after graduation?
From $33,417 one year out to $57,214 four years out — a $23,797 climb, or 71% over three years. Both are federal medians of the same graduating cohorts, so the gap reflects real wage progression rather than a change in who is measured.
How many students graduate in Biology, General each year?
About 84,576 bachelor's graduates a year across 1,116 programs in the federal file. Cohort size matters when reading the median: a field this size averages across a wide range of employers, regions and job titles.