ROI Major

Biotechnology at University of Houston

TX · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 26.12

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Biotechnology degree from University of Houston earn a median salary of $76,913 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in TX, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $83,510. The degree typically pays for itself in 6 years.

Quick Insights

Solid Investment

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

$58,188

Typical Career

$76,913

Top Performers

$99,957

Estimated break-even: 6 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$513

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $6,409. Most students can comfortably afford about a $513 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 2.0x more than the average US high school graduate and 1.0x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Texas buys what costs $0.92 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

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

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Educational Services 19.4%
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 16.7%
Health Care & Social Assistance 10.3%

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

$83,510

Nominal: $76,913 in Texas (COL 92.1% of national avg) · 8.6% 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).

6 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 $32,238 $44,140 $58,680
5 Years After Graduation $58,188 $76,913 $99,957
10 Years After Graduation $89,880 $117,867 $139,528

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 $76,913 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in TX, which has a cost-of-living index of 92.1% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $76,913 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9210) = $83,510 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 Houston can expect a favorable earnings trajectory. The median earnings one year after graduation stand at $44,140, which increases significantly to $76,913 five years post-graduation and further to $117,867 after ten years. When considering purchasing power, the purchasing-power-adjusted median earnings five years after graduation are approximately $83,510.31, indicating that graduates can maintain a competitive standard of living relative to the national average.

In terms of employment opportunities, graduates primarily enter sectors such as Educational Services (19.4%), Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (16.7%), and Health Care & Social Assistance (10.3%). The estimated break-even point for pursuing a degree versus a high-school-only path is approximately six years, suggesting that the investment in education yields a positive return on investment in a relatively short timeframe. Overall, a degree in Biotechnology from the University of Houston presents a solid career path with promising financial and professional prospects.

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 Houston 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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