Pennsylvania · Ecology

Best colleges for Ecology in Pennsylvania

Ranked by graduate earnings

Drexel University, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus and Temple University award the most Ecology degrees and certificates in Pennsylvania: 72, 71 and 32 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 16 Pennsylvania colleges offer Ecology and award 292 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Ecology program, formally known as Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology, is a comprehensive study within the Biological and Biomedical Sciences field. This program is designed for students interested in understanding…

Institutions
16
offering CIP 26.13
States & territories
52
with a program page
Degrees / yr
292
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$35,762
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
1
College Scorecard
Median net price
$22,907
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
73%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Biological Technicians
$59,630
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top institution, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg Public · Bachelor's degree
$35,7622043%—$18,783

Colleges awarding the most Ecology degrees in Pennsylvania

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Drexel University
Philadelphia Private not-for-profit
72Not reported
2University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh Public
71Not reported
3Temple University
Philadelphia Public
32Not reported
4University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Private not-for-profit
24Not reported
5East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg Public
20$35,762
6Pennsylvania State University
University Park Public
18Not reported
7Saint Vincent College
Latrobe Private not-for-profit
12Not reported
8Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove Private not-for-profit
8Not reported
9Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown Private not-for-profit
7Not reported
10Grove City College
Grove City Private not-for-profit
7Not reported
Show the other 6 Pennsylvania colleges offering Ecology
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Lehigh UniversityBethlehemPrivate not-for-profit7
Gannon UniversityEriePrivate not-for-profit5
Waynesburg UniversityWaynesburgPrivate not-for-profit4
Thiel CollegeGreenvillePrivate not-for-profit3
Haverford CollegeHaverfordPrivate not-for-profit1
Keystone CollegeLa PlumePrivate not-for-profit1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Biological Technicians (SOC 19-4021).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+3.5%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~9,100
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$52,000
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingScienceActive ListeningActive LearningWriting

What Biological Technicians earn in Pennsylvania

Jobs in Pennsylvania
2,820
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$59,630
median $54,950
Best-paying metro
$63,180
State College, PA

Related careers

Biological Technicians
$59,630 avg · 2,820 jobs
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary
$95,300 avg · 2,410 jobs
Biological Scientists, All Other
$104,980 avg · 1,810 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Ecology programs in Pennsylvania.

Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Ecology degrees?+

Drexel University (72 graduates a year), University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus (71 graduates a year) and Temple University (32 graduates a year) award the most Ecology degrees and certificates in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 16 Pennsylvania colleges offer Ecology.

Which Ecology program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania tops the list at $35,762. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Biological Technicians earn in Pennsylvania?+

The average annual wage for Biological Technicians in Pennsylvania is $59,630 (median $54,950), across about 2,820 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Ecology program?+

The Ecology program, formally known as Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology, is a comprehensive study within the Biological and Biomedical Sciences field. This program is designed for students interested in understanding…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, science, active listening, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Biological Technicians?+

The national job outlook is about +3.5% growth with around 9,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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