U.S. median for this major: $57,996.
College Scorecard field of study; 126 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 36% 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 $27,648. College Scorecard.
Washington 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 Washington 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 | $7,074 | $30,913 | 1.5 years |
| $30–48k | $8,971 | $39,203 | 1.9 years |
| $48–75k | $11,519 | $50,338 | 2.5 years |
| $75–110k | $18,426 | $80,522 | 4.0 years |
| $110k+ | $24,726 | $108,053 | 5.3 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (43% 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 ($60,418) minus $40,219 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $20,199 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 Washington State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Washington State University
- Acceptance rate: 87% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 61% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $68,905
- Full cost breakdown · all 89 majors · overview
Related majors at Washington State University
- Biochemistry—
- Chemistry—
- Physiology$43,876
- Kinesiology / Exercise Science$60,950
- Microbiological Sciences and Immunology$76,384
Washington State University Biology questions
How much do Washington State University Biology graduates earn?
Biology graduates of Washington State University earn a median $60,418 four years after graduating and $36,290 one year after. The U.S. median for Biology graduates across 837 colleges is $57,996.
How much debt do Washington State University Biology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Biology graduates of Washington State University is $21,500, about 36% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is Washington State University a good school for Biology in Washington?
On pay, Biology graduates of Washington State University earn $60,418 four years out, $4,264 above the median for the same major across 11 Washington colleges ($56,154) and $2,422 above the U.S. median ($57,996). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Washington State University rank for Biology in Washington?
Of 11 Washington colleges reporting Biology graduate earnings, Washington State University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Biology graduates get?
A common career is biological technician, with a median wage of $60,800 in Washington and $57,510 nationally. Others include secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education and natural sciences managers.
Is Washington State University the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing Washington State University with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
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: “Washington State University Biology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/washington-state-university/majors/biology (College Scorecard and BLS data).