Location: Kokomo, IN•In-State Tuition: $8,179•Out-of-State Tuition: $22,043•Admission Rate: 85%•Avg SAT: 1063
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$36,161
Est. from IN median (17 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$23,854
Est. from IN median (10 programs)

Analysis

Biology graduates from regional campuses face a challenging reality: based on comparable programs in Indiana, first-year earnings of around $36,000 must cover an estimated debt load of nearly $24,000. That 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio sits in reasonable territory, but the low absolute salary matters more for day-to-day finances. Monthly loan payments on that debt would consume roughly 10-12% of take-home pay—manageable but tight for someone earning $3,000 monthly before taxes.

The troubling part is what happens next. Similar programs across Indiana suggest earnings that lag behind the state's stronger institutions—Purdue and Indiana State graduates start around $40,000-44,000, a meaningful $4,000-8,000 advantage that compounds over time. Biology bachelor's holders often need additional credentials to access better-paying positions, which means potentially taking on more debt for graduate school while servicing undergraduate loans. The program serves its regional community well, with 35% Pell grant recipients suggesting solid access for first-generation students, but the career trajectory requires careful planning.

If your child is set on biology, understand they're likely looking at graduate school or lateral moves into adjacent fields like sales or lab tech work. The estimated figures here align with state medians, so this isn't an outlier—it's representative of what biology undergrads typically face in Indiana. Make sure they're genuinely committed to the science path and have a clear plan for what comes after graduation.

Where Indiana University-Kokomo Stands

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

Indiana University-Kokomo (estimated ±10%)Other biology programs

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

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 Debt*Debt/Earnings
Indiana University-KokomoKokomo$8,179$36,161*—$23,854*—
Indiana State UniversityTerre Haute$9,992$43,656*$46,860$21,948*0.50
Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette$9,992$40,145*$56,985$20,380*0.51
University of IndianapolisIndianapolis$36,136$39,909*$58,425$27,000*0.68
Trine UniversityAngola$35,600$39,067*—$23,250*0.60
University of Southern IndianaEvansville$10,136$38,985*$49,171$23,375*0.60
National Median—$32,316*—$25,000*0.77
* Estimated from similar programs

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 Indiana University-Kokomo, approximately 35% 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 17 similar programs in IN. Actual outcomes may vary.