Updated March 2026 · College Scorecard data
Is Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology Worth It?
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology holds a solid national average ROI Score of 69/100 across 51 reporting schools — Grade B territory, where repayment math works for most graduates at most institutions. Across the field, median debt is $26K against $55K in first-year earnings — a strong cushion — typical graduates carry less than half a year of starting salary in debt, leaving room to switch jobs or pursue graduate study without distress.
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology ROI at a Glance
holds a solid national average ROI Score of 69/100 across 51 reporting schools — Grade B territory, where repayment math works for most graduates at most institutions. The graduation-weighted average across reporting institutions is the cleanest single number for the field, but it hides the spread — top programs like Brandeis University run far ahead of the bottom of the table. School choice within Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology matters because the major-level number is a starting point, not a prediction.
Earnings rise sharply from $55K in year 1 to $74K by year 5 — 35% growth in four years. That is a strong promotion curve, common in technology, engineering, and finance tracks where early-career skill compounding pays off fast. The five-year earnings trajectory is one of the strongest signals of long-run career fit; a flat curve suggests the major leads to roles where seniority does not pay off without graduate credentials, while a steep curve indicates fast skill compounding inside the field.
Best in field: Brandeis University leads the field with a 72/100 ROI Score (Grade B). Median debt at completion is $20K against $55K in first-year earnings — a debt-to-income ratio of 0.36x. Worst in field: Abilene Christian University sits at the bottom of the field with a 64/100 ROI Score (Grade C). Median debt at completion is $39K against $55K in first-year earnings — a debt-to-income ratio of 0.71x.
Debt-to-Income at the Field Level
At a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48x, Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology shows a strong cushion — typical graduates carry less than half a year of starting salary in debt, leaving room to switch jobs or pursue graduate study without distress. Federal financial-aid research uses the “8% rule” — monthly student loan payments under 8% of gross monthly income — which translates to debt below roughly 0.75x annual earnings on a standard 10-year plan. Programs running above 1.0x typically need income-driven repayment to stay current; above 1.5x, the math rarely works without forgiveness mechanics or an unusually steep career ramp. For borrower-rights and repayment guidance, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is the most accessible federal source.
Debt vs Earnings by School
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology by School
| School | State | Median Debt | Year 1 Earnings | Year 5 Earnings | ROI Grade | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandeis University | Ma | $20K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Amherst College | Ma | $22K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Bates College | Me | $21K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Boston University | Ma | $23K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Chatham University | Pa | $22K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Colgate University | Ny | $21K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Adrian College | Mi | $25K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Albright College | Pa | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Alvernia University | Pa | $24K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Anderson University | Sc | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Asbury University | Ky | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Augustana University | Sd | $25K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Ave Maria University | Fl | $25K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Bellevue College | Wa | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Berry College | Ga | $24K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Bethany Lutheran College | Mn | $23K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Bowdoin College | Me | $24K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Bucknell University | Pa | $25K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Carroll College | Mt | $25K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Carson-Newman University | Tn | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Case Western Reserve University | Oh | $24K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Catawba College | Nc | $24K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Cedarville University | Oh | $25K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Clark University | Ma | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Clarkson University | Ny | $25K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Colorado College | Co | $23K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Colorado School of Mines | Co | $25K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Agnes Scott College | Ga | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Albion College | Mi | $27K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Allegheny College | Pa | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Augsburg University | Mn | $27K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Austin College | Tx | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Baylor University | Tx | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Bellarmine University | Ky | $27K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Belmont Abbey College | Nc | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Bethel University | Mn | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Binghamton University | Ny | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Bridgewater College | Va | $27K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Butler University | In | $28K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Cedar Crest College | Pa | $28K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Centre College | Ky | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Coe College | Ia | $27K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| College of Saint Benedict | Mn | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Brescia University | Ky | $29K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Chaminade University of Honolulu | Hi | $30K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Chestnut Hill College | Pa | $29K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Claflin University | Sc | $29K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Blackburn College | Il | $33K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Baker University | Ks | $36K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Bethel University | In | $36K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Abilene Christian University | Tx | $39K | $55K | $74K | C | BUY |
How Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology’s ROI Score Is Calculated
The Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology ROI Score is a weighted composite of five financial-aid signals: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium over a high-school diploma (25%), 10-year BLS job-growth outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. the national average (10%). Each school + major combination is scored individually, then aggregated up to the field level. The grade thresholds (A ≥ 80, B ≥ 65, C ≥ 50, D ≥ 35, F < 35) are calibrated so a typical break-even degree lands in the C range. Read the full methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology degree worth it?
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology holds a solid national average ROI Score of 69/100 across 51 reporting schools — Grade B territory, where repayment math works for most graduates at most institutions. The dominant signal is debt-to-income: at a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48x on average, the field shows a strong cushion — typical graduates carry less than half a year of starting salary in debt, leaving room to switch jobs or pursue graduate study without distress. Outcomes vary sharply by institution, so the school you choose within Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology usually matters more than the major label itself.
What is the average debt for a Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology degree?
Median debt at completion across the 51 U.S. schools reporting Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology data to the College Scorecard is $26K, against a national all-major average of $26K. The range across schools is wide — $20K at the top of the table to $39K at the bottom.
How much do Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology graduates earn?
Earnings rise sharply from $55K in year 1 to $74K by year 5 — 35% growth in four years. That is a strong promotion curve, common in technology, engineering, and finance tracks where early-career skill compounding pays off fast. National average first-year earnings across all 30,224 school + major combinations on the site is $58K — for context, Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology sits below that benchmark.
Which school has the best Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology program by ROI?
Brandeis University leads the field with a 72/100 ROI Score (Grade B). Median debt at completion is $20K against $55K in first-year earnings — a debt-to-income ratio of 0.36x. On the other end, Abilene Christian University sits at the bottom of the field with a 64/100 ROI Score (Grade C). Median debt at completion is $39K against $55K in first-year earnings — a debt-to-income ratio of 0.71x.
Where does this Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology data come from?
Every figure on this page comes from federal public datasets — the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (collegescorecard.ed.gov) for debt and earnings, IPEDS (nces.ed.gov/ipeds) for graduation rates, and BLS Employment Projections for the job-growth outlook component of the ROI Score. Borrower-rights guidance: the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (consumerfinance.gov). The dataset was last refreshed March 2026.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS, Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. All federal datasets are public domain.
Last updated 2026-03-15 · 51 schools reporting for this major.