Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology at California State University-Northridge

With fewer than 30 graduates in the sample, these numbers deserve careful interpretation, but they suggest CSUN's biology program delivers solid early outcomes for a regional state university. First-year earnings of $34,838 land in the 86th percentile nationally—well above the $29,460 typical for this degree—though the middle-of-the-pack 60th percentile standing within California reveals stiffer in-state competition. Students here are outperforming most programs nationwide while trailing stronger CSU campuses like San Marcos ($40,875) and Long Beach ($35,436).

The $24,250 debt load sits slightly above California's median of $18,834 for this field, yielding a 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio that's manageable but not exceptional. For a university serving 56% Pell-eligible students, that debt figure reflects the reality of financing a degree without extensive family resources. The ratio suggests graduates can handle their loans, though they won't enjoy the cushion that comes with either lower debt or substantially higher starting pay.

The small sample size is the critical caveat here—a few high or low earners could swing these figures considerably. If your child is genuinely committed to ecology or evolutionary biology rather than treating this as a backup option, CSUN offers respectable preparation at a reasonable cost. But families should verify whether more recent cohorts show similar patterns before banking on these specific numbers.