Location: Saint Paul, MN•In-State Tuition: $49,758•Admission Rate: 94%•Avg SAT: 1190
Median Earnings (1yr)
$40,937
95th percentile
60th percentile in Minnesota
Median Debt
$27,000
8% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.66 ManageableSample: 24 graduates Limited data

Analysis

St. Catherine's biology graduates earn $40,937 in their first year—solidly above the Minnesota median of $35,984 and ranking in the 95th percentile nationally among biology programs. However, that 60th percentile within Minnesota is more revealing: at least three state universities produce higher-earning biology graduates, with Saint Cloud State and Metropolitan State both exceeding $42,000. The $27,000 debt load is reasonable and slightly above typical for biology majors, creating a manageable 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift considerably year to year, so one exceptional cohort might be skewing results upward. What's certain is that biology bachelor's degrees rarely lead to high immediate earnings anywhere—the national median of just $32,316 reflects that most biology grads need additional credentials to access better-paying roles. St. Catherine's premium over that baseline is real, but modest compared to top performers in the state.

For parents weighing this program against alternatives, the competitive context matters: your child would likely earn similar money at several Minnesota public universities while potentially paying lower tuition. Unless St. Catherine's smaller class sizes or specific research opportunities justify the private school investment, comparable outcomes are available elsewhere in-state. The debt burden is manageable, but the earnings ceiling typical of bachelor's-level biology work means this path makes most sense for students planning graduate or professional school.

Where St Catherine University Stands

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

St Catherine UniversityOther biology programs

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

Earnings Distribution

How St Catherine University graduates compare to all programs nationally

St Catherine University earns $41k — 95th percentile among biology bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Minnesota

Biology bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Minnesota (31 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
St Catherine UniversitySaint Paul$49,758$40,937—$27,0000.66
Saint Cloud State UniversitySaint Cloud$10,117$44,166$57,880$24,4500.55
Metropolitan State UniversitySaint Paul$9,780$42,128$50,242$28,6190.68
University of Minnesota-MorrisMorris$14,288$40,415$43,278$18,5000.46
Winona State UniversityWinona$10,498$38,666$60,023$22,6650.59
Bethel UniversitySaint Paul$42,930$37,924$46,389$23,5520.62
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 St Catherine University, approximately 36% 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 24 graduates with reported earnings and 39 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.