Biology at Austin Peay State University

Austin Peay's biology program struggles out of the gate but demonstrates notable recovery—graduates earn just $24,662 in their first year, landing in the 11th percentile nationally. That's substantially below both the national median of $32,316 and Tennessee's state median of $27,487. With $26,215 in typical debt, new graduates face more than a full year of earnings before breaking even, a challenging position for anyone considering medical school applications or graduate programs that could require deferring loan payments.

The 49% earnings jump to $36,805 by year four tells a more optimistic story, pulling graduates above the national median and closer to what peers at Middle Tennessee State or University of Memphis earn initially. This suggests many graduates eventually find their footing, whether through graduate credentials, career transitions, or simply gaining experience. Still, that mid-career number only reaches Tennessee's 40th percentile—middle-of-the-pack performance in a state where biology graduates generally earn less than the national norm.

For families where affordability matters most and a student plans to stay in Tennessee, this program offers an accessible entry point to a biology degree. But parents should have frank conversations about those difficult first years: Can your household support a recent graduate earning $25,000 while managing loan payments? Does your student have clear plans for post-graduation—whether grad school, teaching certification, or entering healthcare fields where that degree becomes a stepping stone rather than the end goal?