Biology at Brown University

Brown's biology graduates carry exceptionally low debt—just $13,000 compared to the $27,000 state average—but their earnings lag behind most other Rhode Island programs. While Brown students pay 1 to 4 years after graduation, that $36,084 starting salary trails Roger Williams ($47,799) and URI ($45,846) by substantial margins, and even sits below the state median of $39,910. Among Rhode Island biology programs, Brown ranks in just the 40th percentile for earnings despite its 5% admission rate and 1546 average SAT.

The financial advantage here is straightforward: minimal debt combined with steady earnings growth. That 0.36 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates could theoretically pay off loans in about four months of gross income, and earnings do climb 21% to $43,674 by year four. For families able to fund Brown's education without heavy borrowing (perhaps reflected in that low 13% Pell Grant rate), this becomes a reasonable outcome. Biology often serves as pre-med groundwork, and Brown's credentials likely open graduate school doors that boost long-term prospects.

The concern is paying premium tuition for below-median early earnings. If your child plans to work immediately after graduation rather than pursue advanced degrees, URI delivers notably stronger starting salaries at lower cost. Brown makes more sense if graduate school is the plan or if financial aid brings the total cost down considerably.