U.S. median for this major: $57,996.
College Scorecard field of study; 37 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 49% 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 $25,637. College Scorecard.
Tennessee State University 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 Tennessee State University'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 | $15,005 | $66,472 | 2.6 years |
| $30–48k | $15,840 | $70,171 | 2.8 years |
| $48–75k | $15,579 | $69,015 | 2.7 years |
| $75–110k | $20,624 | $91,364 | 3.6 years |
| $110k+ | $20,099 | $89,039 | 3.5 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (21% 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 ($59,855) minus $34,518 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in TN (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $25,337 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 Tennessee colleges
Every Tennessee 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 | Belmont University | $63,792 | — | $33,147 | 71% |
| 2 | The University of Tennessee-Martin | $63,410 | $25,900 | $10,701 | 53% |
| 3 | Tennessee State University | $59,855 | $29,375 | $15,796 | 34% |
| 4 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | $58,149 | $23,579 | $18,976 | 74% |
| 5 | East Tennessee State University | $57,167 | $20,625 | $15,983 | 53% |
| 6 | Middle Tennessee State University | $56,659 | $21,500 | $13,359 | 54% |
| 7 | Lipscomb University | $54,965 | $24,375 | $24,739 | 72% |
| 8 | University of Memphis | $53,784 | $25,000 | $12,397 | 51% |
| 9 | Fisk University | $50,768 | — | $32,020 | 30% |
| 10 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | $50,597 | $20,000 | $14,265 | 50% |
| 11 | Rhodes College | $50,036 | $23,465 | $28,585 | 85% |
| 12 | Tennessee Technological University | $49,220 | $15,500 | $14,246 | 58% |
| 13 | Austin Peay State University | $48,991 | $26,215 | $9,735 | 40% |
| 14 | The University of the South | $47,695 | $25,000 | $27,872 | 80% |
| 15 | Lane College | $43,529 | $34,280 | $10,904 | 18% |
21 more Tennessee 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 Tennessee State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Tennessee State University
- Acceptance rate: 70% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 34% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $42,730
- Full cost breakdown · all 34 majors · overview
Related majors at Tennessee State University
- Chemistry—
- Kinesiology / Exercise Science$45,568
Tennessee State University Biology questions
How much do Tennessee State University Biology graduates earn?
Biology graduates of Tennessee State University earn a median $59,855 four years after graduating and $30,672 one year after. The U.S. median for Biology graduates across 837 colleges is $57,996.
How much debt do Tennessee State University Biology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Biology graduates of Tennessee State University is $29,375, about 49% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is Tennessee State University a good school for Biology in Tennessee?
On pay, Biology graduates of Tennessee State University earn $59,855 four years out, $6,071 above the median for the same major across 15 Tennessee colleges ($53,784) and $1,859 above the U.S. median ($57,996). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Tennessee State University rank for Biology in Tennessee?
Of 15 Tennessee colleges reporting Biology graduate earnings, Tennessee State University ranks 3rd. The highest is Belmont University at $63,792.
What jobs do Biology graduates get?
A common career is biological technician, with a median wage of $50,840 in Tennessee 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: “Tennessee State University Biology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/tennessee-state-university/majors/biology (College Scorecard and BLS data).