Biology at Coppin State University

Coppin State's biology program shows concerning outcomes that demand careful consideration, even accounting for the small sample size. Graduates earn just $21,151 in their first year—roughly $12,700 below Maryland's median for biology programs and $11,000 below the national average. This places Coppin in the bottom 10% of biology programs statewide, trailing every comparable Maryland school by at least $13,000. The debt load of $27,000 means graduates owe more than an entire year's earnings, creating an unusually difficult financial start for a STEM degree that typically offers better prospects.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift with more data, but the gap is too large to dismiss. Biology graduates from nearby Maryland programs like UMES and Salisbury earn 75% more in their first year with similar debt burdens. Even at peer institutions serving similar student populations, outcomes tend to be stronger. For context, over half of Coppin's students receive Pell grants, suggesting many families are counting on this degree to provide economic mobility.

If your child is set on biology at Coppin, have a frank conversation about career plans. These earnings suggest many graduates aren't landing laboratory or research positions immediately after graduation. Unless there's a compelling reason to choose this specific program—strong faculty relationships, location constraints, or a clear path to graduate school—Maryland offers nearly 20 biology programs with substantially better financial outcomes at graduation.