Updated March 2026 · College Scorecard data
Is Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences Worth It?
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences holds a solid national average ROI Score of 69/100 across 13 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.
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences ROI at a Glance
holds a solid national average ROI Score of 69/100 across 13 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 Auburn University run far ahead of the bottom of the table. School choice within Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences 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: Auburn University leads the field with a 70/100 ROI Score (Grade B). Median debt at completion is $25K against $55K in first-year earnings — a debt-to-income ratio of 0.46x. Worst in field: Chestnut Hill College sits at the bottom of the field with a 68/100 ROI Score (Grade B). Median debt at completion is $29K against $55K in first-year earnings — a debt-to-income ratio of 0.52x.
Debt-to-Income at the Field Level
At a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47x, Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences 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
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences by School
| School | State | Median Debt | Year 1 Earnings | Year 5 Earnings | ROI Grade | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University | Al | $25K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Ave Maria University | Fl | $25K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Bethany Lutheran College | Mn | $23K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Boston University | Ma | $23K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| College of Charleston | Sc | $25K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Ashland University | Oh | $27K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Baldwin Wallace University | Oh | $27K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Boise State University | Id | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Briar Cliff University | Ia | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Bushnell University | Or | $28K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Central College | Ia | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| College of Saint Benedict | Mn | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Chestnut Hill College | Pa | $29K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
How Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences’s ROI Score Is Calculated
The Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences 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 Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences degree worth it?
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences holds a solid national average ROI Score of 69/100 across 13 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 0.47x 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 Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences usually matters more than the major label itself.
What is the average debt for a Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences degree?
Median debt at completion across the 13 U.S. schools reporting Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences data to the College Scorecard is $26K, against a national all-major average of $26K. The range across schools is wide — $25K at the top of the table to $29K at the bottom.
How much do Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences 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, Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences sits below that benchmark.
Which school has the best Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences program by ROI?
Auburn University leads the field with a 70/100 ROI Score (Grade B). Median debt at completion is $25K against $55K in first-year earnings — a debt-to-income ratio of 0.46x. On the other end, Chestnut Hill College sits at the bottom of the field with a 68/100 ROI Score (Grade B). Median debt at completion is $29K against $55K in first-year earnings — a debt-to-income ratio of 0.52x.
Where does this Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences 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 · 13 schools reporting for this major.