Location: Mechanicsburg, PA•In-State Tuition: $40,640•Admission Rate: 78%•Avg SAT: 1214
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$35,122
Est. from PA median (50 programs)
Median Debt
$27,000
8% above national median

Analysis

Messiah University's biology program carries $27,000 in debt—remarkably low for a bachelor's degree and among the best 5% nationally for debt levels. Based on comparable Pennsylvania biology programs, graduates can expect first-year earnings around $35,122, which means debt equals just nine months of gross income. That's a manageable starting position compared to many college programs.

The earnings estimate, drawn from 50 similar programs across Pennsylvania, suggests typical outcomes for state biology majors. While top PA programs like Lehigh and Holy Family report first-year earnings in the mid-40s, the state median aligns closely with national figures. Biology often serves as a stepping stone—many graduates pursue medical, dental, or graduate school rather than entering the workforce immediately, which complicates the early earnings picture. For students heading directly into lab technician, research assistant, or industry roles, these earnings are standard but not generous.

The real advantage here is financial: keeping debt under $30,000 at a private Christian university is no small feat. For families worried about education costs, this program delivers a biology foundation without the crushing debt burdens common at many private colleges. If your child plans advanced training where this degree is preparatory, the modest debt load leaves room for future borrowing. If they're entering the workforce immediately, understand that biology salaries start modestly—but at least they won't be drowning in payments.

Where Messiah University Stands

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

Messiah University (estimated ±10%)Other biology programs

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Pennsylvania

Biology bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Pennsylvania (85 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Messiah UniversityMechanicsburg$40,640$35,122*—$27,000—
Lehigh UniversityBethlehem$62,180$45,695*$52,512$23,1280.51
Holy Family UniversityPhiladelphia$33,968$44,567*—$28,5000.64
Marywood UniversityScranton$39,570$43,968*$51,631$27,0000.61
East Stroudsburg University of PennsylvaniaEast Stroudsburg$11,036$43,182*$47,690$27,0000.63
DeSales UniversityCenter Valley$44,800$42,751*$65,437$27,0000.63
National Median—$32,316*—$25,0000.77
* 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 Messiah University, approximately 20% 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 50 similar programs in PA. Actual outcomes may vary.