Biotechnology: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Biotechnology graduates earn a median $67,097 four years after finishing — $18,737/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,906/yr net price ($67,624 over four years), that pays back in about 3.6 years. Federal data pools 103 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 998 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Worcester State University | MA | $90,565 |
| 2 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick | NJ | $87,600 |
| 3 | Syracuse University | NY | $87,596 |
| 4 | University of California-Davis | CA | $87,406 |
| 5 | University of Houston | TX | $78,750 |
| 6 | Endicott College | MA | $78,735 |
| 7 | California State University-San Marcos | CA | $76,622 |
| 8 | Rochester Institute of Technology | NY | $74,613 |
| 9 | California State University-Northridge | CA | $73,542 |
| 10 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | CA | $73,152 |
| 11 | Utah Valley University | UT | $67,603 |
| 12 | James Madison University | VA | $65,893 |
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.