Human Biology: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Human Biology graduates earn a median $64,732 four years after finishing — $16,372/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 4.1 years. Federal data pools 28 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 1,852 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Human Biology ranks #93 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 54% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUNY Hunter College | NY | $83,420 |
| 2 | Stanford University | CA | $81,529 |
| 3 | University of Kansas | KS | $70,399 |
| 4 | Brown University | RI | $69,802 |
| 5 | University of Southern California | CA | $69,751 |
| 6 | University of California-Los Angeles | CA | $66,496 |
| 7 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | WA | $60,949 |
| 8 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay | WI | $56,117 |
| 9 | Hamline University | MN | $48,483 |
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.