Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology graduates earn a median $48,842 four years after finishing — $482/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 140.3 years. Federal data pools 226 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 4,012 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology ranks #172 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 15% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Maryland-College Park | MD | $65,639 |
| 2 | New York University | NY | $65,406 |
| 3 | California State University-Chico | CA | $64,274 |
| 4 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | CA | $63,525 |
| 5 | Connecticut College | CT | $62,925 |
| 6 | Princeton University | NJ | $62,344 |
| 7 | University of California-Davis | CA | $62,011 |
| 8 | Brigham Young University | UT | $61,078 |
| 9 | California State University-Northridge | CA | $59,940 |
| 10 | Boston University | MA | $57,967 |
| 11 | California State University-Long Beach | CA | $55,588 |
| 12 | Michigan State University | MI | $55,159 |
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 Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology pay grow after graduation?
From $32,882 one year out to $48,842 four years out — a $15,960 climb, or 49% 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 Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology each year?
About 4,012 bachelor's graduates a year across 226 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.