Microbiological Sciences and Immunology at Brigham Young University

BYU's graduates in this field start $6,600 below the national median and nearly $5,000 below Utah's state median—a meaningful gap even accounting for the program's notably low debt burden. While the $12,250 in typical borrowing ranks among the best nationally (5th percentile), the initial earning power places this in the bottom fifth of similar programs nationwide. The state comparison is particularly revealing: Weber State graduates earn $9,200 more in their first year doing essentially the same work.

The debt-to-earnings ratio looks manageable at 0.38, but that's largely because BYU keeps borrowing low rather than because earnings are strong. For a science program at a selective institution (average SAT of 1376), starting just under $32,000 raises questions about whether graduates are landing in competitive positions or whether many are pursuing graduate school or other paths that delay career earnings. This isn't necessarily fatal for a program often viewed as pre-med preparation, but parents should verify their student's specific career plans.

If your child is headed to medical school or graduate programs, the low debt makes this workable. But for students planning to enter the workforce directly with a bachelor's degree, the earning disadvantage compared to both state and national peers is hard to ignore—especially when a program 40 miles north delivers 29% higher starting pay.