Biology Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Study of living organisms and their interactions with the environment.
Starting Salary
$48K
median
Mid-Career
$75K
salary
ROI Payback
6 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
4.5%
rate
Biology Overview
Study of living organisms and their interactions with the environment.
Category
STEM
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
60%
Enrollment Trend
stable
Online Available
Yes
Underemployment
30%
Lifetime Premium
$400K
Female Graduates
58%
Biology Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$18,000
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$18,000
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$382,000
Lifetime earnings premium ($400,000) minus net degree cost ($18,000)
Biology Salary Progression
Common Biology Careers
Research Assistant
Lab Technician
Biological Scientist
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Biology
#1
Harvard
#2
MIT
#3
Stanford
#4
Johns Hopkins
#5
UC San Diego
Related Majors
Biology Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Biology Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for biology programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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