Drake University Biochemistry: earnings, debt & careers

Biochemistry graduates of Drake University earn a median $67,547 four years after graduating, with median federal loan debt of $20,375. That is $2,450 above the U.S. median for Biochemistry graduates ($65,097 across 110 colleges), and ranks 1st of 5 Iowa colleges.

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Earnings, 4 years after graduating
$67,547

U.S. median for this major: $65,097.

College Scorecard field of study; 17 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution

Earnings, 1 year after
—

Median for graduates who received federal aid.

College Scorecard field of study

Median debt at graduation
$20,375

About 30% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $21,626.

College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)

What your family pays
$29,127 /yr

Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.

Sticker price $64,835. College Scorecard.

Drake University Biochemistry: pay against the field, and payback

Same major, other colleges

Drake University graduates$67,547
Iowa median (5 colleges)$64,510 (+$3,037)
U.S. median (110 colleges)$65,097 (+$2,450)

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.

Biochemistry nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →

Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income

Uses Drake University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.

Family incomeNet price / yrCost to finishYears to pay back
$0–30k$25,824$106,3953.4 years
$30–48k$23,275$95,8933.1 years
$48–75k$25,171$103,7053.4 years
$75–110k$27,408$112,9213.7 years
$110k+$33,126$136,4794.4 years

Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (68% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Biochemistry graduates 4 years after graduating ($67,547) minus $36,661 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $30,886 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.

Biochemistry at Iowa colleges

Every Iowa college we cover that reports Biochemistry graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.

RankCollegeEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debtAvg. net priceGraduation
1Drake University$67,547$20,375$29,12774%
2University of Iowa$65,072$21,626$22,53175%
3Cornell College$64,510$27,000$23,63462%
4Iowa State University$63,026$19,477$18,58975%
5Grinnell College$53,105$16,549$17,64888%

12 more Iowa colleges offer Biochemistry but have too few graduates to report earnings.

Careers for Biochemistry graduates

Natural Sciences Managers

Des Moines area$118,740
Iowa$109,760
U.S.$167,220

Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +8.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.

Biological Technicians

Iowa$48,050
U.S.$57,510

Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +7.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.

Microbiologists

Des Moines area$83,790
Iowa$79,830
U.S.$87,990

Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +6.2% 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 Drake University, by income

School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.

College Scorecard

About Drake University

Related majors at Drake University

  • Biology—
  • Chemistry—
  • Neuroscience—

Drake University Biochemistry questions

How much do Drake University Biochemistry graduates earn?

Biochemistry graduates of Drake University earn a median $67,547 four years after graduating. The U.S. median for Biochemistry graduates across 110 colleges is $65,097.

How much debt do Drake University Biochemistry graduates have?

The median federal loan debt for Biochemistry graduates of Drake University is $20,375, about 30% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $21,626.

Is Drake University a good school for Biochemistry in Iowa?

On pay, Biochemistry graduates of Drake University earn $67,547 four years out, $3,037 above the median for the same major across 5 Iowa colleges ($64,510) and $2,450 above the U.S. median ($65,097). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.

Where does Drake University rank for Biochemistry in Iowa?

Of 5 Iowa colleges reporting Biochemistry graduate earnings, Drake University ranks 1st, the highest.

What jobs do Biochemistry graduates get?

A common career is natural sciences managers, with a median wage of $118,740 in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA area and $167,220 nationally. Others include biological technicians and microbiologists.

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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
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Cite this: “Drake University Biochemistry: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/drake-university/majors/biochemistry (College Scorecard and BLS data).