Biology, General graduates from Western Michigan University earn $59,249 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $25,060.
Biology, General at Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan • Bachelor's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Biology, General at Western Michigan University
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Western Michigan 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 143 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Western Michigan University, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $59,249 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 above the national average for this program. Across all programs at Western Michigan University, the mean median-earnings figure is $60,767, 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 Western Michigan University is $25,060, which translates to roughly $209 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 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 Western Michigan University
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $123,892 | $88,297 |
| Paper Science and Engineering | $102,825 | $27,379 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $96,045 | $43,731 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $95,469 | $27,000 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $94,177 | $27,000 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $94,135 | $68,549 |
| Industrial Engineering | $92,306 | — |
| Chemical Engineering | $91,777 | $27,758 |
| Computer Science | $90,876 | $27,000 |
| Air Transportation | $89,564 | $25,500 |
Other Schools with Biology, General
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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.