Biology at Buena Vista University

Buena Vista's biology program lands squarely in the middle of the pack nationally, but here's what matters for Iowa families: graduates earn about $4,000 less annually than the state median for biology majors, placing them in the bottom half of Iowa's 26 programs. The top programs in the state—Upper Iowa, Grand View, Drake—produce graduates earning 40% more within a year of graduation. That's a significant gap that compounds over time.

The bright spot is debt load. At $27,000, it matches the state median and sits in the 5th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of biology programs nationwide saddle graduates with more debt. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.88, graduates should be able to manage payments, though the $30,682 starting salary is tight for someone living independently. Biology majors often pursue graduate degrees, which means this debt could be just the beginning if medical school or PhD programs are on the horizon.

The caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes may vary more than at larger programs. If your child is committed to biology and values Buena Vista's small-campus environment, the manageable debt makes this workable. But if earnings potential is the priority, several Iowa schools deliver substantially better returns for similar or lower debt levels.