What can you do with a Biology degree from Ball State University?

First, some facts. Of the Biology graduates from Ball State University we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:

These are estimates based on AI analysis of 18 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 64%, Biology graduates from Ball State University have a slightly lower likelihood (-3%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

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Also, after graduating, only 33% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Biology graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

• What jobs can you get with a Biology degree from Ball State University?
• What do Biology graduates from Ball State University do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a Biology degree from Ball State University? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a Biology degree from Ball State University?
• What are the best colleges for Biology?

View a random Biology graduate from Ball State University and our analysis:

Relevance score: 93% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2014 from Ball State University with a Bachelor's degree in Biology. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION Laboratory Assistant Indiana University Health Dec 2015 - Jul 2016 The role of Laboratory Assistant does not require specific knowledge or skills from a Biology degree as it primarily involves basic laboratory tasks rather than advanced biological concepts. Medical Technologist II Indiana University Health Jul 2016 - Sep 2019 As a Medical Technologist II, this position directly requires the application of advanced biology knowledge and skills in analyzing laboratory tests and conducting biological analyses on a daily basis. Medical Technologist II Eskenazi Health Sep 2019 - Aug 2022 The position of Medical Technologist II at Eskenazi Health utilizes core biological knowledge and skills, making it highly relevant to the Bachelor's degree in Biology. Medical Technologist III Eskenazi Health Aug 2022 - Present As a Medical Technologist III, this role necessitates a high level of biological expertise and practical skills, ensuring substantial utilization of knowledge from the Biology degree on a daily basis. FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING Unknown degree IU Health Methodist CLS Program 2015 - 2016 ABOUT No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Biology degree from Ball State University?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:

• Naturalist
• Medical Technologist II
• Kitchen Manager
• Service Manager
• Biology Teacher
• Rifle Platoon Commander
• Weapons Platoon Commander
• Series Commander
• Company Commander
• District Sales Representative

So, if you look at the career paths of folks who graduated with a Biology degree from Ball State University, there’s a mixed bag of jobs out there. A lot of graduates have gone into education roles like teaching biology or biomedical science, which makes total sense since they’re drawing directly from their studies. Other relevant jobs include positions as Medical Technologists and various roles at places like the CDC, where their biology knowledge is crucial. But then, there are quite a few who ended up in jobs that don’t really require biology know-how, like servers, fry cooks, or even managers in the culinary industry. It seems a decent chunk of people haven’t landed in positions that fully utilize their biology skills.

Overall, while there are definitely significant roles that align well with a Biology degree, many graduates are finding jobs that are only tangentially related or not related at all. It’s a reminder that having a degree in a specific field doesn’t always mean you’ll stick to that path—sometimes, you just gotta take what you can get. But for those who have managed to land roles closely tied to biology, it’s pretty cool to see how that knowledge comes to life in various settings, from teaching to research.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Biology graduates (this is across all Biology graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Ball State University):

What kind of career trajectories do Biology graduates from Ball State University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Looking at the career paths of graduates from Ball State University with a Biology degree, it’s a mixed bag. For many, the first jobs after graduation don't always directly relate to biology. Some have taken roles like teachers, or even positions that seem far removed from the science field, like a fry cook or server. While it’s not unusual for fresh graduates to explore different options, it does stand out that several individuals seem to find themselves in non-science roles right after graduation. However, as time progresses, some graduates do manage to land more relevant positions, particularly in fields like healthcare, environmental science, and education. For example, individuals have transitioned into roles such as medical technologists, biologists at the CDC, and environmental consultants, showing that they do get back on track in their careers after a few years.

Fast forward about five to ten years, and we see a clearer picture of those who've stuck with the biology theme. Several graduates are now working in roles that harness their degrees, whether it’s becoming a microbiologist, a regional manager in aquatic biology, or even working in influential research positions at companies like Eli Lilly. There are also those who ventured into education and now play key roles as teachers or naturalists. So, while some students do experience a detour into unrelated jobs after graduation, it seems that many eventually find their niche in biology-oriented careers that allow them to utilize their education. Overall, it looks like a sizable number are successfully building fulfilling careers in the field that resonates with their studies from Ball State University. That’s pretty encouraging for someone considering a degree in Biology!

How hard is a Biology degree from Ball State University?

Honestly, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Biology can be a mixed bag, and it really depends on your interests and strengths. At Ball State University, the program might not be the easiest out there, but it’s definitely manageable if you stay organized and put in the effort. You'll encounter a good amount of lab work, research projects, and a fair share of challenging courses that dive deep into genetics, microbiology, and ecology, which can require some serious dedication. If you’re passionate about science and ready to tackle some tough concepts, it can be a rewarding experience. Just be prepared for some late nights of studying and teamwork in labs! Overall, I'd say it's a bit on the challenging side but totally doable with the right mindset.

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Biology.

Do Biology graduates from Ball State University tend to make good money?

So, looking at these Ball State Biology grads, it's a mixed bag when it comes to their earnings. Some of them, like the graduates who went into teaching or medical tech roles, probably have a decent salary, especially if they've moved up in their positions over time. For example, positions like Biomedical Science Teacher or Medical Technologist III tend to offer good pay and stability. On the flip side, you’ve got folks who took jobs that don't typically lead to high earnings, like fry cook or service roles, especially at the start of their careers. The military officers likely had solid income, but the civilian roles they transitioned into afterward vary widely in pay. Overall, some seem to be doing alright financially, while others might still be working their way up the ladder.

What buzzwords do Biology graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Biology (this is across all Biology graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Ball State University). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Biology?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Biology (ordered by the average relevance score of their Biology graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College	Score	Count
American University of Beirut	95	10
Luther College	90	11
Rutgers UniversityNew Brunswick	87	11
The College of New Jersey	86	13
Tufts University	86	17
Saint Louis University	86	11
Saint Joseph's University	86	10
Brandeis University	86	14
California State University-Los Angeles	85	12
Temple University	83	20
University of Pittsburgh	82	32
George Mason University	82	31
Boston University	82	12
University of Maryland	82	15
Wake Forest University	82	16
Seton Hall University	82	19
Texas Tech University	81	18
Illinois State University	81	13
Case Western Reserve University	81	12
University of Oregon	80	13
Cornell University	80	38
California State University, Fresno	80	11
University of Maryland Baltimore County	80	25
Washington University in St. Louis	80	13
California State University Channel Islands	80	11
Muhlenberg College	80	11
University of Scranton	80	11
University of Florida	79	67
Northeastern University	79	31
University of Nebraska-Lincoln	79	19
Georgia Institute of Technology	79	11
Boston College	79	23
University of Oklahoma	78	11
University of Alabama	78	16
Carleton College	78	11
University of Missouri-Columbia	77	29
University of Delaware	77	22
University of California, Santa Cruz	77	19
Providence College	77	11
Oberlin College	77	12
Iowa State University	76	17
University of Virginia	76	30
University of Massachusetts Amherst	76	18
Northwestern University	76	11
Kean University	76	13
Loyola University Chicago	76	25
William & Mary	76	19
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley	76	18
Butler University	76	10
The University of Georgia	75	44
UC Irvine	75	56
University of New Hampshire	75	10
Drexel University	75	13
University of Louisiana at Lafayette	75	13
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	75	18
Binghamton University	75	24
The University of New Mexico	75	14
Wright State University	75	13
UC San Diego	75	13
Gustavus Adolphus College	75	10
Grand Valley State University	74	14
Miami University	74	10
University of North Florida	74	17
UC Santa Barbara	74	27
Rutgers University	74	18
Duke University	74	23
St. Olaf College	74	14
The University of Texas-Pan American	74	10
Davidson College	74	17
Ohio University	73	14
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo	73	18
Towson University	73	14
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	73	60
The University of Texas at San Antonio	73	28
University of North Carolina at Charlotte	73	23
University of Illinois at Chicago	73	32
University of California San Diego	73	11
Stockton University	73	16
University of St. Thomas	73	12
University of Portland	73	15
University of Houston	72	39
San Diego State University	72	16
East Carolina University	72	22
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	72	20
Syracuse University	72	13
Wayne State University	72	20
University of Miami	72	15
University of Massachusetts Lowell	72	12
University at Albany, SUNY	72	12
Hunter College	72	10
University of San Francisco	72	10
University of Missouri-Kansas City	72	12
SUNY Oneonta	72	11
Fairleigh Dickinson University	72	15
Florida State University	71	54
James Madison University	71	40
California State University-Sacramento	71	13
University of Cincinnati	71	24
Oklahoma State University	71	15
West Virginia University	71	19
The University of Alabama	71	16
University of Vermont	71	17
University of Notre Dame	71	10
University of North Carolina at Wilmington	71	26
University of California, Irvine	71	38
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse	71	12
University of Nevada, Reno	71	15
University of Maine	71	14
University of San Diego	71	11
Williams College	71	12
Indiana University Bloomington	70	31
University of Arkansas	70	25
University of Nevada-Las Vegas	70	12
University of North Carolina at Greensboro	70	26
Radford University	70	10
University of Washington Bothell	70	11
University of Wisconsin-Madison	69	54
Virginia Tech	69	16
The University of Texas at Dallas	69	32
Montclair State University	69	17
Rowan University	69	19
University of California, Santa Barbara	69	18
Texas Christian University	69	14
SUNY Geneseo	69	13
Texas A&M University	68	44
University of Utah	68	18
Mississippi State University	68	14
California State University San Marcos	68	11
Salisbury University	68	13
Valdosta State University	68	15
Xavier University	68	11
Smith College	68	10
Willamette University	68	13
The Ohio State University	67	49
University of California, Los Angeles	67	46
Kent State University	67	10
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona	67	14
University of California, Riverside	67	59
Kennesaw State University	67	21
University at Buffalo	67	22
University of Minnesota	67	12
Boise State University	67	10
Metropolitan State University of Denver	67	15
Villanova University	67	14
Stanford University	67	11
Campbell University	67	12
Pacific Lutheran University	67	13
University of Michigan	66	14
Clemson University	66	37
University of Iowa	66	10
University of South Carolina	66	23
Nova Southeastern University	66	26
University of Georgia - Franklin College of Arts and Sciences	66	24
State University of New York College at Geneseo	66	15
The University of Texas at Austin	65	49
University of North Texas	65	43
Georgia State University	65	39
University of Connecticut	65	22
College of Charleston	65	18
University of Pennsylvania	65	10
Brown University	65	10
University of North Carolina Wilmington	65	10
University of Illinois Chicago	65	17
Florida Atlantic University	64	44
Northern Arizona University	64	17
Ball State University	64	18
The University of Akron	64	10
University of Alabama at Birmingham	64	16
Emory University	64	18
Truman State University	64	12
Penn State University	63	39
Arizona State University	63	49
Colorado State University	63	29
University of Rhode Island	63	20
University of West Georgia	63	12
Jackson State University	63	13
University of Washington	62	51
Florida International University	62	59
Louisiana State University	62	33
Baylor University	62	29
North Carolina State University	61	28
Virginia Commonwealth University	61	49
Loyola Marymount University	61	12
St. Mary's College of Maryland	61	13
University of California, Davis	60	45
The University of Texas at Arlington	60	41
St. John's University	60	25
Texas State University	59	19
University of Mississippi	59	16
Marshall University	59	10
Purdue University	58	13
New York University	58	13
University of Kentucky	58	26
Old Dominion University	58	21
University of Colorado Denver	58	26
Texas Woman's University	58	14
Dillard University	58	10
San Francisco State University	57	10
Washington State University	57	18
Georgia Southern University	57	25
University of Central Florida	56	34
University of South Florida	56	12
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga	56	11
Howard University	56	27
Randolph-Macon College	56	10
Northern Illinois University	55	16
Grand Canyon University	54	14
Bowling Green State University	54	11
University of Hawaii at Manoa	54	16
University of Southern California	53	15
Central Connecticut State University	53	12
Oregon State University	52	13
Oakland University	52	18
University of Nebraska at Omaha	52	11
Christopher Newport University	52	11
San Diego State University-California State University	51	15
University of California, San Diego	51	21
New Mexico State University	51	13
Winthrop University	51	10
Eckerd College	50	10
Saint Peter's University	50	10
Stony Brook University	48	24
Texas Southern University	48	10
Francis Marion University	48	11
The Citadel	47	10
Spelman College	47	12
Southeastern Louisiana University	42	10
University of Louisville	37	11