ROI Major

Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology at University of Saint Thomas

MN · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 26.02

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology degree from University of Saint Thomas earn a median salary of $66,546 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in MN, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $70,718. The degree typically pays for itself in 6.9 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

$50,539

Typical Career

$66,546

Top Performers

$91,518

Estimated break-even: 6.9 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$444

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $5,546. Most students can comfortably afford about a $444 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.7x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.9x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Minnesota buys what costs $0.94 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Finance & Insurance, Educational Services.

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 16.9%
Finance & Insurance 12.6%
Educational Services 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

$70,718

Nominal: $66,546 in Minnesota (COL 94.1% of national avg) · 6.3% 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).

6.9 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 $29,637 $41,695 $54,474
5 Years After Graduation $50,539 $66,546 $91,518
10 Years After Graduation $55,464 $110,405 $155,058

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 $66,546 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in MN, which has a cost-of-living index of 94.1% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $66,546 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9410) = $70,718 National Average equivalent.

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

Career Verdict

Graduates in Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology from the University of Saint Thomas can expect a solid earnings trajectory. The median earnings one year after graduation stand at $41,695, which increases to $66,546 after five years and reaches $110,405 by the ten-year mark. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary aligns with a national equivalent of $70,718.38, indicating that graduates maintain a competitive earning potential relative to national averages, especially considering Minnesota's cost-of-living index of 0.941.

The top industries for graduates include Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (16.9%), Finance & Insurance (12.6%), and Educational Services (10.3%). This diverse range of sectors indicates a broad applicability of the degree. The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 6.9 years, suggesting a favorable return on investment over time. Overall, pursuing a degree in this field at the University of Saint Thomas appears to offer a beneficial balance of earnings potential and career opportunities.

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

Compare with Another School

See how the Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology degree at University of Saint Thomas 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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