Biology at California State University-San Bernardino

Cal State San Bernardino biology graduates start well below typical biology majors—$31,381 puts them in just the 40th percentile statewide and slightly below the national average—but they show impressive momentum over time. Within four years, median earnings climb 47% to $46,258, surpassing many peer programs and closing the gap with stronger initial performers. This trajectory matters more than day-one numbers for families thinking long-term.

The financial accessibility here is a genuine strength. At $15,283, debt loads run about 25% below California's median for biology programs and dramatically lower than the $25,000 national benchmark. With nearly 60% of students on Pell grants and a 98% admission rate, CSUSB serves students who might struggle to access more selective programs—and delivers manageable debt in return. The 0.49 debt-to-earnings ratio, while not spectacular at year one, becomes quite comfortable once that earnings growth kicks in.

The catch is understanding what drives that first-year figure. Many biology graduates pursue further education or lab positions that pay modestly initially but lead somewhere better. The four-year earnings suggest graduates are finding that path. For a student planning graduate school anyway, the low debt load makes CSUSB a strategic choice. For one expecting a bachelor's degree to be terminal, those early earnings—trailing programs like Cal State East Bay by $13,000—deserve careful consideration against career plans.