Biology at Dean College

Dean College's biology bachelor's program lacks specific graduate outcome data, but drawing on Massachusetts biology program benchmarks suggests a middle-of-the-road scenario. With estimated first-year earnings around $42,000 and debt near $27,000, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64 falls within manageable territory—though biology graduates typically face several years before reaching their earning potential in healthcare, research, or graduate programs.

The estimated figures place this program at the Massachusetts median, but the state's top-performing biology programs show significantly higher outcomes, with schools like Worcester Polytechnic and UMass-Lowell producing graduates earning $46,000-$52,000 in their first year. That $5,000-$10,000 difference matters when you're managing loan payments, particularly if your child plans to pursue additional schooling before entering their career proper. Biology often serves as a stepping stone rather than a terminal degree, which means factoring in potential graduate school debt on top of undergraduate loans.

For parents weighing this investment, the key question is whether Dean's smaller program (suggested by the suppressed data) offers advantages that justify comparable debt to larger state universities with stronger placement records. The 74% admission rate and reasonable estimated debt load make this accessible, but without program-specific outcomes, you're essentially betting on your child matching the broader Massachusetts average rather than benefiting from demonstrated institutional strength in biology placement.