# University of South Carolina-Columbia: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (bachelor's)

Columbia, SC. IPEDS 218663, CIP 26.13. Page: https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-south-carolina-columbia/majors/ecology-and-evolutionary-biology

## Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings 1 year after graduating: $25,271
- Median earnings 4 years after graduating: $55,093 (U.S. median for this major: $50,400 across 62 colleges)
- Median federal loan debt: $18,896 (U.S. median $23,524)
- Rank in SC: 1 of 3 colleges by 4-year earnings
- Versus the SC median for this major (3 colleges, $45,323): +$9,770
- Versus the U.S. median: +$4,693

## Cost to finish and years to pay back (EducationGuide calculation)
School-wide net price x 4.13 years (average time graduates took). Earnings gain = $55,093 minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in SC (Census ACS 2020-2024).

| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | $12,634 | $52,178 | 2.4 years |
| 30-48k | $14,953 | $61,756 | 2.9 years |
| 48-75k | $19,859 | $82,018 | 3.8 years |
| 75-110k | $24,478 | $101,094 | 4.7 years |
| 110k+ | $28,125 | $116,156 | 5.4 years |

Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score#value

## Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at SC colleges
| College | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Carolina-Columbia | $55,093 | $18,896 | $22,811 | 79% |
| Coastal Carolina University | $45,323 | $26,000 | $13,966 | 49% |
| College of Charleston | $42,466 | $25,000 | $18,960 | 66% |

## Careers
- Natural Sciences Managers (SOC 11-9121): median wage $122,930 Columbia, SC, $131,140 SC, $167,220 U.S.; U.S. jobs 8.2% by 2035
- Biological Technicians (SOC 19-4021): median wage not reported Columbia, SC, $53,040 SC, $57,510 U.S.; U.S. jobs 7.4% by 2035
- Conservation Scientists (SOC 19-1031): median wage $45,910 Columbia, SC, $52,310 SC, $73,010 U.S.; U.S. jobs 5.3% by 2035

## Sources and years
- Earnings (4 yr): Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars; debt: NSLDS pooled AY2018-19, AY2019-20 cohort

Free to reuse with attribution: cite "EducationGuide.com" with a link to the page URL. Most figures are U.S. government data (public domain); loan default rates and athletics come from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By 1.0, attribution required) and founding years from Wikidata (CC0).