Biology at Bethel University

Bethel University's biology program outperforms nationally but sits squarely in the middle of Minnesota's competitive landscape. Graduates earn $37,924 their first year—landing in the 84th percentile nationally but only the 60th percentile within Minnesota, where the state median is $35,984. That's a modest $2,000 edge over typical Minnesota biology grads, though notably behind state leaders like Saint Cloud State ($44,166) and Metropolitan State ($42,128). The 22% earnings growth to $46,389 by year four suggests decent career progression, and the debt load of $23,552 is actually below both state and national medians.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62 is manageable—graduates owe about seven months' salary, which they can realistically pay down even on early-career biology wages. However, the small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift considerably with future cohorts. Biology is also a field where many students pursue graduate education, so these bachelor's-level earnings may not tell the whole story.

For Minnesota families, this represents a solid mid-tier option: better than half the state's biology programs, with below-average debt, but not the standout performer. If your student plans to stay in Minnesota and work directly after graduation, compare carefully against the state's public universities, which deliver similar or better outcomes.