Location: Hanover, IN•In-State Tuition: $42,894•Admission Rate: 84%•Avg SAT: 1197
Median Earnings (1yr)
$31,321
44th percentile
40th percentile in Indiana
Median Debt
$27,000
8% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.86 ManageableSample: 18 graduates Limited data

Analysis

Hanover College's biology program trails behind most other Indiana options, with graduates earning $31,321 their first year—about $5,000 less than the state median and landing in just the 40th percentile among Indiana biology programs. When nearby schools like Indiana State ($43,656) and Purdue ($40,145) offer significantly stronger earning outcomes, geography matters here.

The good news is debt management: at $27,000, borrowing is lighter than most biology programs nationally (5th percentile for debt burden), keeping the debt-to-earnings ratio under 1.0. For context, that's slightly more debt than the Indiana median of $24,820, but paired with below-average earnings, it still means stretching those first-year paychecks to handle loan payments. The small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates tracked—means individual career choices could be skewing these numbers significantly, but the gap between this program and other Indiana options is too wide to ignore.

If your child is set on Hanover for other reasons (small liberal arts experience, specific research opportunities), the manageable debt keeps this from being a terrible financial decision. But if biology career preparation is the priority, looking at Indiana's public universities would likely deliver better earning potential for similar or lower debt.

Where Hanover College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all biology bachelors's programs nationally

Hanover CollegeOther biology programs

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

Earnings Distribution

How Hanover College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Hanover College earns $31k — 44th percentile among biology bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Indiana

Biology bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Indiana (42 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Hanover CollegeHanover$42,894$31,321—$27,0000.86
Indiana State UniversityTerre Haute$9,992$43,656$46,860$21,9480.50
Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette$9,992$40,145$56,985$20,3800.51
University of IndianapolisIndianapolis$36,136$39,909$58,425$27,0000.68
Trine UniversityAngola$35,600$39,067—$23,2500.60
University of Southern IndianaEvansville$10,136$38,985$49,171$23,3750.60
National Median—$32,316—$25,0000.77

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with 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

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

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:

Forensic Science Technicians

Collect, identify, classify, and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations. Perform tests on weapons or substances, such as fiber, hair, and tissue to determine significance to investigation. May testify as expert witnesses on evidence or crime laboratory techniques. May serve as specialists in area of expertise, such as ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, or biochemistry.

$67,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

$64,580/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

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

Agricultural Technicians

Work with agricultural scientists in plant, fiber, and animal research, or assist with animal breeding and nutrition. Set up or maintain laboratory equipment and collect samples from crops or animals. Prepare specimens or record data to assist scientists in biology or related life science experiments. Conduct tests and experiments to improve yield and quality of crops or to increase the resistance of plants and animals to disease or insects.

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

Precision Agriculture Technicians

Apply geospatial technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS), to agricultural production or management activities, such as pest scouting, site-specific pesticide application, yield mapping, or variable-rate irrigation. May use computers to develop or analyze maps or remote sensing images to compare physical topography with data on soils, fertilizer, pests, or weather.

$48,480/yrJobs growth:Associate'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.

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 Hanover College, approximately 26% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 18 graduates with reported earnings and 25 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.