Biological and Physical Sciences at Barnard College

A Barnard interdisciplinary science degree—combining biological and physical sciences—comes with an estimated $26,120 in debt, slightly above what similar programs nationally report. The first-year earnings estimate of $36,362, drawn from three comparable New York programs, lands right at the state median but masks significant variation: Bard graduates in similar programs earn nearly $10,000 more, while Fordham's figure sits about $6,000 lower. For a highly selective institution (8% admission rate, 1500 average SAT), these peer program benchmarks suggest outcomes that are solid but not exceptional.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72 falls within a manageable range, meaning estimated monthly loan payments would consume roughly 7-8% of take-home pay. What's harder to assess is career trajectory—interdisciplinary science backgrounds can lead to diverse paths, from research positions to graduate school to industry roles, each with different earning timelines. The small graduate cohort that triggered data suppression here may reflect the program's specialized nature or students pivoting to other majors.

Given the estimation uncertainty, focus on what's definite: Barnard's academic reputation, the flexibility an interdisciplinary science degree provides, and your child's specific career plans. If graduate school is likely, understand that these first-year earnings represent just one data point in a longer educational investment.