Location: Claremore, OK•In-State Tuition: $7,392•Out-of-State Tuition: $15,176
Median Earnings (1yr)
$27,822
23rd percentile
40th percentile in Oklahoma
Median Debt
$20,750
17% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.75 ManageableSample: 44 graduates

Analysis

Rogers State's biology program produces first-year earnings of $27,822—about $3,000 below Oklahoma's median for biology degrees and nearly $5,000 below the national benchmark. While the program sits at the 40th percentile within Oklahoma, that's cold comfort when graduates from Oklahoma Panhandle State are earning 38% more right out of the gate. The debt load of $20,750 is actually modest compared to national standards, but that's relative: you're still borrowing to earn what many retail managers make.

The fundamentals here are shaky for a four-year STEM degree. Biology graduates typically need additional education for many career paths, and starting from a $27,822 base makes that investment harder to justify. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75 isn't catastrophic, but it reflects the core problem—you're taking on typical debt for below-average outcomes. With 38% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are banking on upward mobility that these numbers don't support.

If your child is set on biology at a regional Oklahoma school, at least three public universities deliver measurably better starting salaries for similar or lower debt. Unless Rogers State offers specific advantages like location or transfer credit acceptance, those alternatives deserve serious consideration before committing to this program.

Where Rogers State University Stands

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

Rogers State UniversityOther biology programs

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

Earnings Distribution

How Rogers State University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Rogers State University earns $28k — 23th percentile among biology bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Oklahoma

Biology bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Oklahoma (20 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Rogers State UniversityClaremore$7,392$27,822—$20,7500.75
Oklahoma Panhandle State UniversityGoodwell$7,922$38,440$38,266$25,2900.66
Northeastern State UniversityTahlequah$7,513$36,536$47,339$21,7010.59
University of Central OklahomaEdmond$8,522$34,180$46,638$21,4370.63
East Central UniversityAda$8,032$32,077$50,073$22,7500.71
Oral Roberts UniversityTulsa$34,100$29,582—$28,5000.96
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 Rogers State University, approximately 38% 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 44 graduates with reported earnings and 39 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.