Biology at Bellevue University

Bellevue University's biology program outearns every other biology bachelor's program in Nebraska—and it's not particularly close. At $40,741 in first-year earnings, graduates earn roughly $5,000 more than their peers at University of Nebraska Omaha and nearly $13,000 more than those from Creighton, placing this program in the 95th percentile nationally. The debt load of $28,031 sits just slightly above state and national medians, resulting in a healthy debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 that graduates should be able to manage comfortably.

What makes this outcome particularly noteworthy is the context: Bellevue is a private, largely online institution serving a substantial population of Pell grant recipients (29%), yet it's delivering earnings that surpass Nebraska's flagship university campuses. This suggests the program either attracts students with strong career prospects—possibly working adults already in healthcare or technical fields seeking to advance—or provides unusually effective career preparation and placement support.

For Nebraska families specifically weighing their options, the numbers indicate Bellevue offers superior earning potential compared to staying in-state at more traditional institutions. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) provides reasonable confidence in these figures, though parents should verify whether the program format—likely online-heavy given Bellevue's model—aligns with their student's learning preferences and career goals.