Biology at Drew University

Drew's biology program shows troubling first-year outcomes—graduates earn just $24,229 initially, landing in the bottom 5th percentile nationally and 25th percentile among New Jersey schools. That's $8,000 below the state median and roughly $16,000 less than what biology graduates earn at comparable New Jersey institutions like William Paterson or Rider. With $27,000 in debt, students face debt loads above the state average while earning substantially less than their peers.

The strong caveat here is sample size: fewer than 30 graduates reported data, so these numbers might not represent the typical experience. The 93% earnings jump to $46,635 by year four suggests that those who push through the difficult early period can reach respectable salaries. However, that first year matters—it's when loan payments begin and when many graduates decide whether to continue in their field or pivot to something else.

For parents, the risk is clear: you're paying private school tuition for outcomes that lag behind state universities. Unless your child has specific reasons to attend Drew (perhaps graduate school plans where the initial salary dip matters less), New Jersey's public universities deliver stronger biology career outcomes at lower cost. The small sample size offers some hope the picture isn't typical, but that uncertainty itself is a warning sign.