Biology at Bemidji State University

Bemidji State's biology program produces earnings that significantly outpace the national average for biology majors—$37,469 versus $32,316 nationally—placing it in the 82nd percentile among 1,379 biology programs nationwide. However, within Minnesota, the program sits comfortably in the middle of the pack at the 60th percentile. Graduates here start roughly $1,500 above the state median but trail the top Minnesota programs like Saint Cloud State by about $6,700 in first-year earnings.

The debt picture is reasonable: $25,494 leaves graduates with a manageable 0.68 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning they owe less than nine months of their first-year salary. More encouraging is the 15% earnings growth over four years, which pushes median pay to nearly $43,000—suggesting that biology graduates who stay in their field see meaningful progression early in their careers.

For families considering in-state options, Bemidji State offers solid value if cost is similar across Minnesota public universities. The program delivers above-average national outcomes with typical debt levels, though students with stronger academic profiles might find better earning potential at Saint Cloud State or the University of Minnesota-Morris. This is a dependable choice for students committed to biology, particularly those planning to pursue graduate programs where the undergraduate institution matters less than strong foundational preparation.