ROI Major

Biology, General at Allen University

SC · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 26.01

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Biology, General degree from Allen University earn a median salary of $38,967 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in SC, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $40,932. The degree typically pays for itself in 17.3 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

$28,211

Typical Career

$38,967

Top Performers

$59,476

Estimated break-even: 17.3 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$260

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,247. Most students can comfortably afford about a $260 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.0x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.5x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in South Carolina buys what costs $0.95 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

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

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Health Care & Social Assistance 16.1%
Educational Services 12.2%
Administrative & Support Services 10.4%

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

$40,932

Nominal: $38,967 in South Carolina (COL 95.2% of national avg) · 5% 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).

17.3 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 $19,846 $26,274 $34,526
5 Years After Graduation $28,211 $38,967 $59,476
10 Years After Graduation $32,639 $56,877 $79,787

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 $38,967 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in SC, which has a cost-of-living index of 95.2% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $38,967 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9520) = $40,932 National Average equivalent.

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

Career Verdict

The earnings trajectory for graduates with a degree in Biology, General from Allen University shows a steady increase over time. Median earnings one year after graduation stand at $26,274, rising to $38,967 after five years, and reaching $56,877 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the median five-year salary is approximately $40,931.72, indicating that while initial earnings may be modest, there is potential for significant growth in real terms over the course of a career.

Graduates typically enter industries such as Health Care & Social Assistance (16.1%), Educational Services (12.2%), and Administrative & Support Services (10.4%). The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 17.3 years, suggesting that while the degree may take time to yield a return on investment, the long-term benefits in terms of career opportunities and salary potential can be substantial. Overall, students should weigh these factors carefully when considering their educational and career paths.

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 Allen 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.

Explore More