Location: Golden, CO•In-State Tuition: $21,186•Out-of-State Tuition: $44,376•Admission Rate: 60%•Avg SAT: 1403
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$42,142
Est. from CO median (4 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$22,250
Est. from national median (111 programs)

Analysis

Colorado's biochemistry programs show a wide earnings spread—from University of Denver's $32,613 to CU Boulder's $50,474—making it difficult to predict where Mines graduates will land without actual outcome data. Based on four comparable Colorado programs, first-year earnings around $42,000 seem plausible for this highly selective STEM school (average SAT 1403), though that's notably below Boulder's reported $50,474 despite Mines' strong reputation in technical fields. The estimated $22,250 in debt sits below both state and national medians, yielding a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53.

The uncertainty here matters more than usual. Mines attracts strong students (only 13% receive Pell grants) and commands premium tuition as a specialized technical institution. If graduates actually track closer to Boulder's outcomes—reasonable given the school's STEM focus—the investment looks solid. But if they fall toward the state median or below, families are paying top-tier prices for middle-tier results in a field where graduate school is often necessary for career advancement. Without knowing whether Mines' biochemistry graduates pursue industry jobs, research positions, or further education, the $42,000 estimate offers limited guidance for planning your family's investment in this specific program.

Where Colorado School of Mines Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology bachelors's programs nationally

Colorado School of Mines (estimated ±10%)Other biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Colorado

Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Colorado (10 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Colorado School of MinesGolden$21,186$42,142*—$22,250*—
University of Colorado BoulderBoulder$16,430$50,474*$51,989$20,185*0.40
Metropolitan State University of DenverDenver$10,780$45,799*——*—
Colorado State University-Fort CollinsFort Collins$12,896$38,484*$64,863$25,620*0.67
University of DenverDenver$59,340$32,613*—$26,293*0.81
National Median—$38,036*—$23,000*0.60
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology graduates

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Research Coordinators

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Water Resource Specialists

Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biochemists and Biophysicists

Study the chemical composition or physical principles of living cells and organisms, their electrical and mechanical energy, and related phenomena. May conduct research to further understanding of the complex chemical combinations and reactions involved in metabolism, reproduction, growth, and heredity. May determine the effects of foods, drugs, serums, hormones, and other substances on tissues and vital processes of living organisms.

$103,650/yrJobs growth:Doctoral or professional degree

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists

Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. Engage in clinical investigation, research and development, or other related activities.

$100,590/yrJobs growth:Doctoral or professional degree

Microbiologists

Investigate the growth, structure, development, and other characteristics of microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, algae, or fungi. Includes medical microbiologists who study the relationship between organisms and disease or the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms.

$87,330/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in biological sciences. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Biological Technicians

Assist biological and medical scientists. Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, monitor experiments, collect data and samples, make observations, and calculate and record results. May analyze organic substances, such as blood, food, and drugs.

$52,000/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Food Science Technicians

Work with food scientists or technologists to perform standardized qualitative and quantitative tests to determine physical or chemical properties of food or beverage products. Includes technicians who assist in research and development of production technology, quality control, packaging, processing, and use of foods.

$48,480/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Biological Scientists, All Other

All biological scientists not listed separately.

Bioinformatics Scientists

Conduct research using bioinformatics theory and methods in areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology, biotechnology, computational biology, proteomics, computer information science, biology and medical informatics. May design databases and develop algorithms for processing and analyzing genomic information, or other biological information.

Molecular and Cellular Biologists

Research and study cellular molecules and organelles to understand cell function and organization.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Colorado School of Mines, approximately 13% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 4 similar programs in CO. Actual outcomes may vary.