Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology at Brigham Young University-Idaho

BYU-Idaho's biochemistry program sits in a peculiar middle ground—first-year earnings of $35,779 land it at the 60th percentile among Idaho's handful of programs, yet nationally it trails at the 40th percentile. The estimated debt of $25,489 (based on typical borrowing patterns at similar private nonprofit schools) translates to a 0.71 ratio against first-year income, which is manageable but not impressive for a science degree. For context, the national median debt for biochemistry programs is actually slightly lower at $23,000, while typical first-year earnings nationally run about $2,200 higher.

The real question is what you're buying with that debt load at an open-admission school. These molecular biology graduates aren't commanding the premium you'd expect from a rigorous STEM field—they're earning less than many bachelor's programs in business or health. That suggests either weaker lab opportunities, limited industry connections in rural Idaho, or graduates heading into lower-paying lab tech roles rather than research positions. The University of Idaho's comparable program shows similar earnings ($34,251), which points to this being more about Idaho's limited biotech ecosystem than the school itself.

If your student is genuinely passionate about molecular biology and BYU-Idaho's religious environment fits their goals, the debt burden won't sink them. But be clear-eyed: these estimated figures suggest they're unlikely to launch into high-paying industry positions straight out of undergrad. Graduate school, pharmacy programs, or medical school—where this degree serves as groundwork rather than endpoint—might be the more realistic path to justify this investment.