Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology at Case Western Reserve University

That $22,390 first-year salary stands out immediately—and not in a good way. Case Western Reserve is a highly selective university (29% admission rate, 1501 average SAT), yet this biochemistry program produces first-year earnings that land in just the 10th percentile among Ohio programs and the 5th percentile nationally. Compare that to Ohio State's graduates in the same field earning $36,427, or University of Cincinnati's at $48,348. Even accounting for the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates in this cohort—the gap is too large to dismiss entirely.

The debt load of $23,000 is exactly average for biochemistry programs, but paired with such low initial earnings, it creates a concerning debt-to-earnings ratio above 1.0. That means graduates owe more than they'll earn in their entire first year. This pattern often signals graduates pursuing additional education (medical school, PhD programs) where immediate earnings don't reflect long-term potential. If your child plans graduate school, these numbers may be temporary. But if they're planning to work immediately after graduation, the math doesn't add up—especially when comparing to what biochemistry graduates earn at other Ohio universities.

Before dismissing this program, understand what's driving these numbers. The small sample means a few graduate students or gap-year medical school applicants could skew the entire dataset. Request placement data directly from Case Western to see what percentage pursue advanced degrees versus employment.