Biology at Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies

Drury's biology program leaves Missouri-bound students with a puzzling contradiction: graduates earn above the national median but fall below Missouri's state average, ranking in just the 40th percentile among Show-Me State programs. First-year earnings of $33,699 trail in-state competitors like Missouri Western ($40,936) and UMKC ($40,483) by roughly $7,000-8,000 annually—a gap that compounds significantly over a career.

The silver lining is manageable debt. At $26,688, graduates borrow only slightly more than state and national norms, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79 that most families can handle. Earnings growth of 25% over four years also suggests career progression, though even at $41,944 by year four, graduates still haven't caught up to what some Missouri programs deliver right out of the gate. With 59% of students receiving Pell grants, this matters deeply for families counting every dollar.

For Missouri residents, this program works if other factors—location, fit, specific faculty expertise—tip the scales strongly in Drury's favor. Otherwise, several in-state publics offer clearer financial value. Out-of-state families should think carefully: you'd be paying private tuition for outcomes that lag behind Missouri's median, which raises real questions about return on investment.