ROI Major

Biotechnology at University of Georgia

GA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 26.12

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Biotechnology degree from University of Georgia earn a median salary of $74,872 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in GA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $82,731. The degree typically pays for itself in 7.3 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

$50,159

Typical Career

$74,872

Top Performers

$100,994

Estimated break-even: 7.3 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$499

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $6,239. Most students can comfortably afford about a $499 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.9x more than the average US high school graduate and 1.0x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Georgia buys what costs $0.91 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

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

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 19.5%
Educational Services 17.1%
Health Care & Social Assistance 11.7%

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

$82,731

Nominal: $74,872 in Georgia (COL 90.5% of national avg) · 10.5% 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).

7.3 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 $18,417 $26,371 $33,372
5 Years After Graduation $50,159 $74,872 $100,994
10 Years After Graduation $60,961 $91,143 $152,658

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 $74,872 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in GA, which has a cost-of-living index of 90.5% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $74,872 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9050) = $82,731 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 Biotechnology from the University of Georgia can expect a significant increase in earnings over time. The median earnings one year after graduation stand at $26,371, which rises to $74,872 five years post-graduation and reaches $91,143 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the median earnings five years after graduation equate to approximately $82,731.49 nationally, indicating that graduates are positioned well in terms of financial stability as they progress in their careers.

The top industries for Biotechnology graduates include Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (19.5%), Educational Services (17.1%), and Health Care & Social Assistance (11.7%). The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 7.3 years, suggesting a favorable return on investment for pursuing this degree. Overall, the career prospects in Biotechnology appear promising, with strong earning potential and diverse industry opportunities.

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

Compare with Another School

See how the Biotechnology degree at University of Georgia 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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