Biology at Doane University

Doane's biology program shows earnings that beat both national and state medians, though the small graduate sample means these numbers could shift significantly with more data. Biology majors here earn $35,302 in their first year—roughly $3,000 above what biology graduates typically make nationwide and in Nebraska. The $27,000 median debt sits right at national norms but represents just 76% of first-year earnings, a manageable starting point.

What's particularly encouraging is the 43% earnings jump to $50,459 by year four, suggesting graduates find career traction after those initial post-graduation years. Among Nebraska's biology programs, Doane lands in the 60th percentile—solidly middle-of-the-pack for the state, trailing Bellevue and UNO but ahead of several competitors. The relatively low debt burden (5th percentile nationally) means graduates aren't shouldering excessive loans compared to peers elsewhere.

The critical caveat: with fewer than 30 recent graduates in the data, a few high or low earners can skew the picture considerably. If your child is serious about biology and values Doane's small-college environment, the debt-to-earnings math works. Just recognize these numbers might not hold for every cohort, and students heading toward graduate school or low-paying research positions initially may experience a different financial trajectory than what's shown here.