U.S. median for this major: $44,201.
College Scorecard field of study; 121 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 65% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $24,393.
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 Zoology / Animal 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.
Zoology / Animal 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 | 3.6 years |
| $30–48k | $10,830 | $45,919 | 5.5 years |
| $48–75k | $16,521 | $70,049 | 8.4 years |
| $75–110k | $22,703 | $96,261 | 11.5 years |
| $110k+ | $28,546 | $121,035 | 14.5 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 Zoology / Animal Biology graduates 4 years after graduating ($41,768) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $8,357 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.
Careers for Zoology / Animal 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.
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +3.6% 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
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology$55,159
- Biology$64,018
- Biochemistry$63,419
- Neuroscience$58,046
- Microbiological Sciences and Immunology$61,953
- Genetics$55,404
MSU Zoology / Animal Biology questions
How much do MSU Zoology / Animal Biology graduates earn?
Zoology / Animal Biology graduates of Michigan State University earn a median $41,768 four years after graduating and $26,801 one year after. The U.S. median for Zoology / Animal Biology graduates across 52 colleges is $44,201.
How much debt do MSU Zoology / Animal Biology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Zoology / Animal Biology graduates of Michigan State University is $27,000, about 65% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,393.
Where does MSU rank for Zoology / Animal Biology in Michigan?
Of 1 Michigan colleges reporting Zoology / Animal Biology graduate earnings, Michigan State University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Zoology / Animal 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 zoologists and wildlife biologists.
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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 Zoology / Animal Biology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/michigan-state-university/majors/zoology-animal-biology (College Scorecard and BLS data).