Median Earnings (1yr)
$33,096
55th percentile
60th percentile in Texas
Median Debt
$25,000
At national median

Analysis

Dallas Baptist University's biology program shows surprisingly strong performance for a school with a 91% admission rate, outpacing 60% of Texas biology programs despite its open-access profile. At $33,096 in first-year earnings, graduates earn more than the state median of $30,432, though they still trail the state's top performers by $6,000-$9,000. The $25,000 debt load sits right at the national median, and with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76, graduates can realistically manage their payments while building toward better outcomes.

The real story here is the earnings trajectory: that 47% jump to $48,708 by year four suggests DBU's career services or alumni network helps biology graduates find their footing after a modest start. However, these conclusions rest on a very small sampleβ€”fewer than 30 graduatesβ€”which means a handful of exceptional or struggling outcomes could swing these numbers significantly in any given year.

For families considering this program, it offers solid middle-of-the-pack performance in Texas at a manageable debt level. Just understand you're betting on growth potential rather than immediate high earnings, and recognize that actual outcomes for your student could vary more than usual given the limited data. If your child plans to pursue graduate work in biology or healthcare, this could serve as an affordable stepping stone.

Where Dallas Baptist University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all biology bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Dallas Baptist University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Dallas Baptist University$33,096$48,708+47%
The University of Texas at Austin$31,832$54,042+70%
Texas A&M University-College Station$29,028$53,216+83%
Texas Woman's University$31,367$52,586+68%
The University of Texas at Dallas$26,029$50,623+94%

Compare to Similar Programs in Texas

Biology bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Texas (70 total in state)

Scroll to see more β†’

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Dallas Baptist UniversityDallas$38,140$33,096$48,708$25,0000.76
Southern Methodist UniversityDallas$64,460$39,087$44,885$22,1250.57
University of Mary Hardin-BaylorBelton$33,150$36,637β€”$27,0000.74
University of Houston-Clear LakeHouston$7,746$35,591$50,154$19,9530.56
Texas State UniversitySan Marcos$11,450$34,516$46,634$24,0000.70
Saint Edward's UniversityAustin$51,384$33,597$49,126$26,0000.77
National Medianβ€”$32,316β€”$25,0000.77

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with biology graduates

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Research Coordinators

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Water Resource Specialists

Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists

Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. Engage in clinical investigation, research and development, or other related activities.

$100,590/yrJobs growth:Doctoral or professional degree

Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in biological sciences. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Forensic Science Technicians

Collect, identify, classify, and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations. Perform tests on weapons or substances, such as fiber, hair, and tissue to determine significance to investigation. May testify as expert witnesses on evidence or crime laboratory techniques. May serve as specialists in area of expertise, such as ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, or biochemistry.

$67,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

$64,580/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biological Technicians

Assist biological and medical scientists. Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, monitor experiments, collect data and samples, make observations, and calculate and record results. May analyze organic substances, such as blood, food, and drugs.

$52,000/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Agricultural Technicians

Work with agricultural scientists in plant, fiber, and animal research, or assist with animal breeding and nutrition. Set up or maintain laboratory equipment and collect samples from crops or animals. Prepare specimens or record data to assist scientists in biology or related life science experiments. Conduct tests and experiments to improve yield and quality of crops or to increase the resistance of plants and animals to disease or insects.

$48,480/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Precision Agriculture Technicians

Apply geospatial technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS), to agricultural production or management activities, such as pest scouting, site-specific pesticide application, yield mapping, or variable-rate irrigation. May use computers to develop or analyze maps or remote sensing images to compare physical topography with data on soils, fertilizer, pests, or weather.

$48,480/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Food Science Technicians

Work with food scientists or technologists to perform standardized qualitative and quantitative tests to determine physical or chemical properties of food or beverage products. Includes technicians who assist in research and development of production technology, quality control, packaging, processing, and use of foods.

$48,480/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Biological Scientists, All Other

All biological scientists not listed separately.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Dallas Baptist University, approximately 24% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 27 graduates with reported earnings and 33 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.