Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology at Belhaven University

A biochemistry degree from Belhaven will likely cost about $25,500 in debt based on typical borrowing patterns at similar private institutions—a figure that sits above the state median but below the national average for this field. The challenge comes on the earnings side: while the estimated $38,000 first-year salary would match the national median for biochemistry programs, comparable programs in Mississippi typically produce much lower starting outcomes. Mississippi State, the strongest performer in the state with actual reported data, shows graduates earning around $30,500, while Ole Miss graduates start closer to $25,000.

The 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio looks reasonable on paper, suggesting you'd owe about eight months' salary. But that calculation assumes the national earnings estimate holds true here—a significant uncertainty given that Mississippi's biochemistry programs generally underperform the national market. If Belhaven's outcomes trend closer to state norms rather than national ones, graduates could face a tighter financial squeeze in those critical first years after graduation.

Given that nearly half of Belhaven's students qualify for Pell grants and the school serves a student population that may be particularly debt-sensitive, the lack of program-specific data makes this a genuine gamble. Your best move is to contact Belhaven's career services directly and ask for placement data: where do their biochemistry graduates actually work, and what do they earn? Without that information, you're betting on outcomes that may not materialize in Mississippi's job market.