Biology at Assumption University

Assumption's biology program outperforms 95% of biology programs nationwide in early earnings—impressive on its face—but the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could swing dramatically year to year. What's more telling is the Massachusetts context: this program lands right in the middle of state offerings at the 60th percentile, trailing Worcester Polytechnic by nearly $10,000 and even regional competitors like Salem State by over $3,000. The $27,000 debt load matches the state median exactly, which is low nationally but doesn't provide any advantage over comparable Massachusetts programs.

The earnings trajectory shows solid 28% growth to $53,905 by year four, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64 is quite manageable. Still, biology graduates often pursue graduate or professional school, and starting at $42,252 doesn't leave much cushion for additional loans. If your child is committed to staying in Massachusetts for career opportunities, they'd find better value at UMass Lowell (similar earnings, likely lower cost) or even Salem State. The limited sample size is a real concern here—this data could represent an unusually successful cohort rather than a reliable pattern. Assumption isn't a bad choice for biology, but at this tuition level, you're not seeing measurably better outcomes than more affordable state options.