U.S. median for this major: $57,996.
College Scorecard field of study; 65 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 48% 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 $25,431. College Scorecard.
NSU 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 NSU'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 | $11,693 | $50,514 | 2.2 years |
| $30–48k | $12,261 | $52,968 | 2.3 years |
| $48–75k | $12,549 | $54,212 | 2.4 years |
| $75–110k | $17,777 | $76,797 | 3.3 years |
| $110k+ | $19,077 | $82,413 | 3.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (32% 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 ($55,452) minus $32,488 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in LA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $22,964 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 Louisiana colleges
Every Louisiana 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 | Louisiana Tech University | $59,671 | $22,917 | $11,864 | 64% |
| 2 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | $56,019 | $20,875 | $19,151 | 69% |
| 3 | Northwestern State University of Louisiana | $55,452 | $26,821 | $13,606 | 43% |
| 4 | Grambling State University | $54,628 | $33,187 | $19,809 | 36% |
| 5 | University of New Orleans | $52,671 | $22,500 | $12,384 | 38% |
| 6 | Southeastern Louisiana University | $49,951 | $20,062 | $13,154 | 45% |
| 7 | Tulane University of Louisiana | $47,777 | $13,875 | $39,949 | 86% |
| 8 | Louisiana State University-Shreveport | $45,759 | $26,695 | $7,022 | 38% |
| 9 | Nicholls State University | $45,142 | $22,187 | $12,947 | 54% |
| 10 | Southern University and A & M College | $44,880 | $33,000 | $20,077 | 27% |
| 11 | Southern University Law Center | $44,880 | $33,000 | — | — |
| 12 | Southern University at New Orleans | $44,350 | — | $14,810 | 13% |
| 13 | Xavier University of Louisiana | $42,938 | $25,887 | $17,127 | 49% |
| 14 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | $41,323 | $21,500 | $13,530 | 53% |
| 15 | Dillard University | $37,061 | $31,376 | $22,094 | 43% |
| 16 | University of Louisiana at Monroe | $33,429 | $20,000 | $13,466 | 54% |
7 more Louisiana 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 NSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About NSU
- Acceptance rate: 93% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 43% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $47,021
- Full cost breakdown · all 31 majors · overview
Related majors at NSU
- Kinesiology / Exercise Science$51,722
- Health Sciences$67,765
- Microbiological Sciences and Immunology—
NSU Biology questions
How much do NSU Biology graduates earn?
Biology graduates of Northwestern State University of Louisiana earn a median $55,452 four years after graduating and $25,078 one year after. The U.S. median for Biology graduates across 837 colleges is $57,996.
How much debt do NSU Biology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Biology graduates of Northwestern State University of Louisiana is $26,821, about 48% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is NSU a good school for Biology in Louisiana?
On pay, Biology graduates of Northwestern State University of Louisiana earn $55,452 four years out, $10,002 above the median for the same major across 16 Louisiana colleges ($45,450) and $2,544 below the U.S. median ($57,996). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does NSU rank for Biology in Louisiana?
Of 16 Louisiana colleges reporting Biology graduate earnings, Northwestern State University of Louisiana ranks 3rd. The highest is Louisiana Tech University at $59,671.
What jobs do Biology graduates get?
A common career is biological technician, with a median wage of $47,310 in Louisiana 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: “Northwestern State University of Louisiana Biology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/northwestern-state-university-of-louisiana/majors/biology (College Scorecard and BLS data).