Biology, General graduates from Black Hills State University earn $40,967 median salary — below the national average for this program. Median debt: $24,764.
Biology, General at Black Hills State University
Spearfish, South Dakota • Bachelor's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Biology, General at Black Hills State University
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Black Hills State University and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Biology, General at the bachelor's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 27 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Black Hills State University, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $40,967 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $53,391 across all institutions offering Biology, General, graduates here earn below the national average for this program. Across all programs at Black Hills State University, the mean median-earnings figure is $49,452, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Biology, General graduates at Black Hills State University is $24,764, which translates to roughly $206 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60 is under the 1.0 threshold the College Scorecard uses to flag favorable gainful-employment outcomes — earnings in year one already exceed cumulative borrowing. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Biology, General at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Carlow University | $134,677 | $27,000 |
| Providence College | $93,757 | $27,000 |
| Seton Hall University | $93,200 | $20,276 |
| College of the Holy Cross | $92,914 | $27,000 |
| University of Detroit Mercy | $91,888 | $20,500 |
| Yeshiva University | $90,456 | $20,500 |
| Ohio Dominican University | $90,431 | $27,000 |
| Marquette University | $88,921 | $24,524 |
| Union College | $87,208 | $21,500 |
| Dartmouth College | $87,026 | $17,030 |
Other Programs at Black Hills State University
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Human Resources Management and Services | $73,150 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services | $69,079 | — |
| Biology, General | $60,349 | $12,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $59,626 | $27,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $57,025 | $27,500 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $55,622 | $23,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $53,793 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $52,883 | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | $51,881 | — |
| Sociology | $51,562 | — |
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About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.