U.S. median for this major: $57,996.
College Scorecard field of study; 27 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 65% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $25,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $21,277. College Scorecard.
BHSU Biology: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses BHSU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $11,863 | $53,146 | 10.3 years |
| $30–48k | $13,379 | $59,938 | 11.6 years |
| $48–75k | $15,588 | $69,834 | 13.5 years |
| $75–110k | $18,072 | $80,963 | 15.7 years |
| $110k+ | $18,604 | $83,346 | 16.1 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.5 years, the average time graduates took (25% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Biology graduates 4 years after graduating ($40,967) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in SD (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $5,170 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Biology at South Dakota colleges
Every South Dakota college we cover that reports Biology graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern State University | $70,545 | $25,300 | $15,812 | 49% |
| 2 | Augustana University | $67,630 | $26,000 | $23,894 | 73% |
| 3 | University of South Dakota | $58,099 | $23,250 | $19,858 | 60% |
| 4 | South Dakota State University | $54,446 | $27,000 | $19,841 | 62% |
| 5 | Black Hills State University | $40,967 | $26,613 | $15,911 | 43% |
4 more South Dakota colleges offer Biology but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Biology graduates
Biological technician
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +7.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Natural Sciences Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +8.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at BHSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About BHSU
- Acceptance rate: 96% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 43% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $46,674
- Full cost breakdown · all 35 majors · overview
Related majors at BHSU
- Chemistry—
- Kinesiology / Exercise Science$55,622
BHSU Biology questions
How much do BHSU Biology graduates earn?
Biology graduates of Black Hills State University earn a median $40,967 four years after graduating and $33,518 one year after. The U.S. median for Biology graduates across 837 colleges is $57,996.
How much debt do BHSU Biology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Biology graduates of Black Hills State University is $26,613, about 65% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is BHSU a good school for Biology in South Dakota?
On pay, Biology graduates of Black Hills State University earn $40,967 four years out, $17,132 below the median for the same major across 5 South Dakota colleges ($58,099) and $17,029 below the U.S. median ($57,996). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does BHSU rank for Biology in South Dakota?
Of 5 South Dakota colleges reporting Biology graduate earnings, Black Hills State University ranks 5th. The highest is Northern State University at $70,545.
What jobs do Biology graduates get?
A common career is biological technician, with a median wage of $41,300 in South Dakota and $57,510 nationally. Others include secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education and natural sciences managers.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Black Hills State University Biology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/black-hills-state-university/majors/biology (College Scorecard and BLS data).