Biology at Carlow University

Carlow's biology program shows promising numbers, but the small graduate sample means these figures could shift significantly year to year. Still, what we see is encouraging: first-year earnings of $36,211 beat both the national median ($32,316) and Pennsylvania's median ($35,122), with manageable debt of $27,000. More importantly, earnings jump 23% by year four to $44,547, suggesting graduates find their footing in the job market after an initial entry-level period.

The debt picture stands out as particularly favorable—at the 5th percentile nationally, Carlow biology graduates carry less debt than 95% of biology majors across the country. Combined with solid starting salaries, this creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75, well below concerning levels. Among Pennsylvania's 85 biology programs, this ranks around the 60th percentile for earnings, which is respectable though not elite (top programs like Lehigh start graduates above $45,000).

For families evaluating this program, the risk is the small sample size making outcomes less predictable, but the fundamentals look sound. Carlow serves a substantial Pell-eligible population (41%) while producing graduates who earn above-average salaries without crushing debt. If your child thrives in smaller institutional settings and plans to work in Pittsburgh or Pennsylvania, where these credentials appear to hold value, this represents a reasonable investment—just understand you're working with limited historical data.