U.S. median for this major: $57,996.
College Scorecard field of study; 25 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 $27,636. College Scorecard.
SOU 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 SOU'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 | $11,830 | $51,342 | 1.9 years |
| $30–48k | $12,466 | $54,102 | 2.0 years |
| $48–75k | $15,813 | $68,628 | 2.6 years |
| $75–110k | $22,415 | $97,281 | 3.7 years |
| $110k+ | $24,181 | $104,946 | 4.0 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (31% 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 ($63,008) minus $36,549 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in OR (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $26,459 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 Oregon colleges
Every Oregon 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 | Southern Oregon University | $63,008 | $27,000 | $16,732 | 43% |
| 2 | University of Portland | $58,051 | $22,846 | $28,210 | 80% |
| 3 | Portland State University | $54,934 | $25,750 | $9,552 | 53% |
| 4 | Pacific University | $53,092 | $26,021 | $35,273 | 67% |
| 5 | George Fox University | $52,264 | $27,000 | $31,679 | 72% |
| 6 | University of Oregon | $51,459 | $25,400 | $22,182 | 72% |
| 7 | Linfield University | $49,714 | $27,000 | $26,536 | 70% |
| 8 | Lewis & Clark College | $49,503 | $21,464 | $36,013 | 75% |
| 9 | Oregon State University | $47,221 | $22,846 | $19,604 | 70% |
| 10 | Oregon State University-Cascades Campus | $47,221 | $22,846 | $18,048 | 56% |
| 11 | Western Oregon University | $45,268 | $27,342 | $17,237 | 47% |
| 12 | Willamette University | $45,197 | $24,870 | $25,121 | 71% |
6 more Oregon 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 SOU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About SOU
- Acceptance rate: 89% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 43% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $49,175
- Full cost breakdown · all 48 majors · overview
Related majors at SOU
- Chemistry—
- Kinesiology / Exercise Science$57,299
SOU Biology questions
How much do SOU Biology graduates earn?
Biology graduates of Southern Oregon University earn a median $63,008 four years after graduating and $33,930 one year after. The U.S. median for Biology graduates across 837 colleges is $57,996.
How much debt do SOU Biology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Biology graduates of Southern Oregon University is $27,000, about 43% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is SOU a good school for Biology in Oregon?
On pay, Biology graduates of Southern Oregon University earn $63,008 four years out, $12,422 above the median for the same major across 12 Oregon colleges ($50,586) and $5,012 above the U.S. median ($57,996). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does SOU rank for Biology in Oregon?
Of 12 Oregon colleges reporting Biology graduate earnings, Southern Oregon University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Biology graduates get?
A common career is biological technician, with a median wage of $48,420 in the Medford, OR 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: “Southern Oregon University Biology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/southern-oregon-university/majors/biology (College Scorecard and BLS data).