Best Biology, General Degrees in the US by ROI
Top colleges ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all active states. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
27
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$221,685
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$14,006
Cost of attendance
| # | College | State | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
San Diego Miramar College
Grad rate: 43.1% |
CA | +$172,649 | $52,214 | $11,428 | $6,500 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Austin Community College District
Grad rate: 16.1% |
TX | -$56,028 | $41,217 | $11,156 | $13,375 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Allen County Community College
Grad rate: 36.0% |
KS | -$62,304 | $41,002 | $13,072 | $12,000 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
San Diego Mesa College
Grad rate: 33.8% |
CA | -$75,362 | $40,042 | $12,964 | $7,611 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Reedley College
Grad rate: 37.5% |
CA | -$86,121 | $39,274 | $11,413 | $6,500 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
CUNY LaGuardia Community College
Grad rate: 27.1% |
NY | -$118,934 | $37,370 | $13,167 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Blinn College District
Grad rate: 10.2% |
TX | -$120,326 | $37,907 | $19,233 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
UCNJ Union College of Union County New Jersey
Grad rate: 35.0% |
NJ | -$134,124 | $37,229 | $13,752 | $8,297 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Texas State Technical College
Grad rate: 37.0% |
TX | -$148,914 | $37,292 | $20,011 | $10,913 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Laredo College
Grad rate: 33.5% |
TX | -$171,526 | $34,556 | $11,323 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Essex County College
Grad rate: 18.3% |
NJ | -$172,142 | $34,575 | $11,821 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
El Camino Community College District
Grad rate: 35.9% |
CA | -$186,432 | $34,016 | $13,376 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Northwest Vista College
Grad rate: 30.9% |
TX | -$196,963 | $33,961 | $10,864 | $10,708 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
San Diego City College
Grad rate: 23.9% |
CA | -$209,155 | $33,509 | $13,255 | $9,500 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
San Antonio College
Grad rate: 23.7% |
TX | -$264,317 | $30,583 | $11,576 | $9,500 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Georgia Military College
Grad rate: 35.2% |
GA | -$267,924 | $31,100 | $18,298 | $9,873 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
San Bernardino Valley College
Grad rate: 20.6% |
CA | -$274,250 | $29,753 | $14,655 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Louisburg College
Grad rate: 54.1% |
NC | -$282,546 | $31,554 | $36,813 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Mott Community College
Grad rate: 15.4% |
MI | -$323,457 | $27,971 | $12,495 | $13,250 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Grad rate: 45.7% |
MS | -$327,436 | $26,919 | $12,908 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland Campus
Grad rate: 30.5% |
NJ | -$340,365 | $26,915 | $12,920 | $9,500 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Campus
Grad rate: 32.3% |
NJ | -$343,129 | $26,915 | $14,302 | $9,500 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
South Texas College
Grad rate: 26.8% |
TX | -$364,302 | $24,981 | $7,505 | $6,602 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
College of Western Idaho
Grad rate: 26.7% |
ID | -$365,308 | $26,381 | $12,294 | $20,993 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
CUNY Kingsborough Community College
Grad rate: 25.2% |
NY | -$378,011 | $25,023 | $12,998 | $9,241 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Copiah-Lincoln Community College
Grad rate: 48.6% |
MS | -$397,248 | $23,322 | $11,844 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
El Paso Community College
Grad rate: 21.3% |
TX | -$491,532 | $19,305 | $12,741 | $9,000 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Biology, General Degrees by State
Browse Biology, General programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.