Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology at Boston University

Boston University's biochemistry program starts slower than you'd expect given the school's selectivity, with first-year earnings of $42,850 falling below the Massachusetts state median of $47,410. That places graduates in just the 40th percentile among Bay State biochem programs—behind UMass-Boston and significantly trailing Northeastern's $63,781. For a school with an 11% admission rate and 1473 average SAT, this initial positioning should raise questions about immediate post-graduation outcomes.

The picture improves substantially over time. By year four, earnings jump 48% to $63,204, catching up to Northeastern's starting salary and moving well above the national median. The $26,000 debt load, matching the state median, creates a manageable 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio. Graduates are clearly finding their footing in graduate programs or research roles that take time to materialize into stronger compensation.

The core issue is whether your family can absorb that slower launch period. If your child needs to start earning immediately after graduation or wants to avoid graduate school, those first-year numbers suggest other Massachusetts options might deliver better initial returns. But if they're planning on medical school, PhD programs, or research positions where early career pay matters less than long-term trajectory, the strong year-four performance indicates BU provides adequate preparation—just not the immediate payoff you might expect from such a competitive institution.