ROI Major

Biology, General at Rogers State University

OK · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 26.01

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Biology, General degree from Rogers State University earn a median salary of $55,546 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in OK, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $64,439. The degree typically pays for itself in 9.3 years.

Quick Insights

Slow Burn / High Debt Risk

How this degree looks at a glance

A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.

Salary Ranges

Starting Range

$39,242

Typical Career

$55,546

Top Performers

$73,075

Estimated break-even: 9.3 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$370

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,629. Most students can comfortably afford about a $370 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.4x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.7x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Oklahoma buys what costs $0.86 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Public Administration.

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Health Care & Social Assistance 20.0%
Educational Services 10.7%
Public Administration 9.4%

Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.

5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent

$64,439

Nominal: $55,546 in Oklahoma (COL 86.2% of national avg) · 16% higher purchasing power

10-Year Earnings Curve

Break-Even Timeline

How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).

9.3 years to break even
Graduation 15 years

Total Investment

$155,168

4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost

HS Graduate Baseline

$38,792/yr

BLS 2023 median, HS diploma

View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
Timeframe 25th Pct. Median (50th) 75th Pct.
1 Year After Graduation $25,306 $34,560 $42,596
5 Years After Graduation $39,242 $55,546 $73,075
10 Years After Graduation $54,051 $78,529 $154,543

Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).

How We Calculate Purchasing Power

The median salary of $55,546 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in OK, which has a cost-of-living index of 86.2% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $55,546 × (1.0 ÷ 0.8620) = $64,439 National Average equivalent.

COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →

Career Verdict

Graduates with a degree in Biology, General from Rogers State University can expect a positive earnings trajectory. Median earnings one year after graduation stand at $34,560, increasing to $55,546 after five years, and reaching $78,529 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary equivalent nationally is approximately $64,438.52, indicating that graduates can expect their earnings to maintain a competitive edge relative to national averages, especially in a state with a cost of living index of 0.862.

The top industries for graduates include Health Care & Social Assistance (20.0%), Educational Services (10.7%), and Public Administration (9.4%), reflecting a diverse range of career opportunities. With an estimated break-even point of approximately 9.3 years compared to a high school-only path, the return on investment for pursuing a degree in Biology, General appears favorable. This suggests that graduates can achieve financial stability and career advancement in sectors that are integral to community well-being and education.

AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.

Compare with Another School

See how the Biology, General degree at Rogers State University stacks up against another institution side-by-side.

Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.

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