Biology at Boston College

Boston College's biology program sits in an awkward middle ground: it vastly outperforms the national average but trails significantly behind most Massachusetts competitors. While first-year earnings of $38,592 land in the 87th percentile nationally, they fall to just the 40th percentile within Massachusetts—where half of biology programs produce higher initial earnings. Worcester Polytechnic, UMass-Lowell, and even public Salem State all generate $7,000-8,000 more in first-year earnings. For a highly selective private institution with a 16% admission rate and average SAT of 1501, these regional results raise questions about whether you're getting commensurate value for BC's premium tuition.

The program's saving grace is manageable debt ($19,000, well below both state and national medians) and strong earnings growth—graduates see incomes jump 66% by year four to nearly $64,000. This trajectory suggests the BC network and credential open doors over time, even if immediate post-graduation outcomes lag Massachusetts peers. If your child is considering medical school or graduate programs where BC's prestige matters, this could work. But for students heading straight to the workforce, understand that you're paying for brand value that doesn't immediately translate to Massachusetts' competitive biology job market. The debt is reasonable enough that this isn't a disastrous choice, but similar money at UMass-Lowell or WPI would likely yield better immediate returns.