U.S. median for this major: $50,400.
College Scorecard field of study; 29 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 48% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $23,524.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $32,198. College Scorecard.
MSU Ecology and Evolutionary Biology: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Michigan colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
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.
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses MSU'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 | $7,068 | $29,968 | 1.4 years |
| $30–48k | $10,830 | $45,919 | 2.1 years |
| $48–75k | $16,521 | $70,049 | 3.2 years |
| $75–110k | $22,703 | $96,261 | 4.4 years |
| $110k+ | $28,546 | $121,035 | 5.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (65% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology graduates 4 years after graduating ($55,159) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $21,748 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.
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Michigan colleges
Every Michigan college we cover that reports Ecology and Evolutionary 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 | Michigan State University | $55,159 | $26,500 | $19,680 | 81% |
| 2 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | $52,390 | $15,242 | $13,138 | 93% |
9 more Michigan colleges offer Ecology and Evolutionary Biology but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 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.
Conservation Scientists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.3% 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 MSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About MSU
- Acceptance rate: 85% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 81% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $67,253
- Full cost breakdown · all 105 majors · overview
Related majors at MSU
- Biology$64,018
- Biochemistry$63,419
- Chemistry$65,983
- Environmental Science / Conservation$60,728
- Forestry$55,724
- Microbiological Sciences and Immunology$61,953
MSU Ecology and Evolutionary Biology questions
How much do MSU Ecology and Evolutionary Biology graduates earn?
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology graduates of Michigan State University earn a median $55,159 four years after graduating and $29,318 one year after. The U.S. median for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology graduates across 62 colleges is $50,400.
How much debt do MSU Ecology and Evolutionary Biology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology graduates of Michigan State University is $26,500, about 48% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,524.
Where does MSU rank for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology in Michigan?
Of 2 Michigan colleges reporting Ecology and Evolutionary Biology graduate earnings, Michigan State University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Ecology and Evolutionary Biology graduates get?
A common career is natural sciences managers, with a median wage of $109,280 in the Lansing-East Lansing, MI area and $167,220 nationally. Others include biological technicians and conservation scientists.
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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: “Michigan State University Ecology and Evolutionary Biology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/michigan-state-university/majors/ecology-and-evolutionary-biology (College Scorecard and BLS data).