Biology at Eckerd College

Eckerd's biology program produces earnings that lag behind most alternatives, even after accounting for Florida's generally lower wages in this field. While graduates start near the state median at $26,871, they remain stuck below $30,000 four years out—roughly $3,000 less than the national average and placing them in just the 20th percentile nationally. Perhaps more concerning, nearby community colleges like St. Petersburg College and Miami Dade produce biology graduates earning $34,000-$38,000, roughly 30% more than Eckerd alumni.

The debt picture offers a small consolation: at $27,000, it's slightly above Florida's typical biology debt load but manageable relative to first-year earnings. The 1.00 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates can theoretically pay this off, though the persistently low earnings trajectory means financial progress will be slow. For a selective liberal arts college with a 1256 average SAT, these outcomes fall short of what families might expect.

If your child is set on biology at a private Florida institution, understand that community college transfers or state universities deliver stronger financial outcomes in this field. Eckerd may offer intangible benefits—smaller classes, research opportunities, campus culture—but the earnings data suggests these advantages don't translate into career momentum for biology majors.