U.S. median for this major: $57,996.
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 43% 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 $62,459. College Scorecard.
PLU 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 PLU'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 | $13,609 | $58,519 | 4.6 years |
| $30–48k | $12,948 | $55,676 | 4.3 years |
| $48–75k | $15,756 | $67,751 | 5.3 years |
| $75–110k | $22,535 | $96,901 | 7.5 years |
| $110k+ | $26,915 | $115,735 | 9.0 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (51% 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 ($53,077) minus $40,219 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $12,858 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 Washington colleges
Every Washington 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 | Washington State University | $60,418 | $21,500 | $14,971 | 61% |
| 2 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | $59,443 | $14,223 | $14,091 | 85% |
| 3 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus | $59,443 | $14,223 | $12,319 | 65% |
| 4 | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus | $59,443 | $14,223 | $10,163 | 63% |
| 5 | Seattle University | $58,242 | $22,417 | $34,662 | 76% |
| 6 | Central Washington University | $56,154 | $25,790 | $18,476 | 54% |
| 7 | Eastern Washington University | $56,083 | $21,666 | $13,886 | 43% |
| 8 | Gonzaga University | $55,707 | $26,496 | $35,119 | 86% |
| 9 | Pacific Lutheran University | $53,077 | $22,626 | $19,589 | 69% |
| 10 | University of Puget Sound | $52,645 | $24,654 | $38,394 | 68% |
| 11 | Western Washington University | $50,027 | $17,003 | $21,193 | 65% |
7 more Washington 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 PLU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About PLU
- Acceptance rate: 78% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 69% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $66,990
- Full cost breakdown · all 40 majors · overview
Related majors at PLU
- Chemistry$59,993
- Kinesiology / Exercise Science$52,113
PLU Biology questions
How much do PLU Biology graduates earn?
Biology graduates of Pacific Lutheran University earn a median $53,077 four years after graduating and $36,766 one year after. The U.S. median for Biology graduates across 837 colleges is $57,996.
How much debt do PLU Biology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Biology graduates of Pacific Lutheran University is $22,626, about 43% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is PLU a good school for Biology in Washington?
On pay, Biology graduates of Pacific Lutheran University earn $53,077 four years out, $3,077 below the median for the same major across 11 Washington colleges ($56,154) and $4,919 below the U.S. median ($57,996). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does PLU rank for Biology in Washington?
Of 11 Washington colleges reporting Biology graduate earnings, Pacific Lutheran University ranks 9th. The highest is Washington State University at $60,418.
What jobs do Biology graduates get?
A common career is biological technician, with a median wage of $63,770 in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA area 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: “Pacific Lutheran University Biology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/pacific-lutheran-university/majors/biology (College Scorecard and BLS data).