U.S. median for this major: $65,097.
College Scorecard field of study; 26 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 31% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $21,626.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $24,018. College Scorecard.
ISU Biochemistry: 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.
Biochemistry nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses ISU'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 | $10,582 | $45,714 | 1.7 years |
| $30–48k | $11,506 | $49,706 | 1.9 years |
| $48–75k | $15,463 | $66,800 | 2.5 years |
| $75–110k | $19,605 | $84,694 | 3.2 years |
| $110k+ | $22,496 | $97,183 | 3.7 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (54% 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 ($63,026) minus $36,661 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $26,365 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.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drake University | $67,547 | $20,375 | $29,127 | 74% |
| 2 | University of Iowa | $65,072 | $21,626 | $22,531 | 75% |
| 3 | Cornell College | $64,510 | $27,000 | $23,634 | 62% |
| 4 | Iowa State University | $63,026 | $19,477 | $18,589 | 75% |
| 5 | Grinnell College | $53,105 | $16,549 | $17,648 | 88% |
12 more Iowa colleges offer Biochemistry but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Biochemistry graduates
Natural Sciences Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +8.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Biological Technicians
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +7.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Microbiologists
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 ISU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About ISU
- Acceptance rate: 89% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 75% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $63,386
- Full cost breakdown · all 93 majors · overview
Related majors at ISU
- Biology$53,447
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology$39,143
- Chemistry$66,486
- Chemical Engineering$92,773
- Microbiological Sciences and Immunology$49,875
ISU Biochemistry questions
How much do ISU Biochemistry graduates earn?
Biochemistry graduates of Iowa State University earn a median $63,026 four years after graduating and $43,520 one year after. The U.S. median for Biochemistry graduates across 110 colleges is $65,097.
How much debt do ISU Biochemistry graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Biochemistry graduates of Iowa State University is $19,477, about 31% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $21,626.
Is ISU a good school for Biochemistry in Iowa?
On pay, Biochemistry graduates of Iowa State University earn $63,026 four years out, $1,484 below the median for the same major across 5 Iowa colleges ($64,510) and $2,071 below the U.S. median ($65,097). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does ISU rank for Biochemistry in Iowa?
Of 5 Iowa colleges reporting Biochemistry graduate earnings, Iowa State University ranks 4th. The highest is Drake University at $67,547.
What jobs do Biochemistry graduates get?
A common career is natural sciences managers, with a median wage of $116,540 in the Ames, 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
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Iowa State University Biochemistry: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/iowa-state-university/majors/biochemistry (College Scorecard and BLS data).