Biology at Elizabethtown College

Elizabethtown College's biology program shows impressive earnings trajectory despite a slow start. While graduates earn $36,891 in their first year—just above Pennsylvania's median—they jump to nearly $58,000 by year four. That 57% growth rate suggests many graduates pursue additional credentials or transition into higher-paying roles, which is common for biology majors heading toward healthcare or research careers. The $27,000 debt load is reasonable, creating a manageable 0.73 debt-to-earnings ratio that improves significantly as careers progress.

The rankings tell an interesting story: this program lands in the 79th percentile nationally but only the 60th percentile within Pennsylvania, where competition is fierce. You're looking at solid outcomes, but not elite ones—schools like Lehigh and Holy Family place graduates at $10,000+ higher starting salaries. Still, Elizabethtown's outcomes beat many larger state schools and the debt burden stays in check.

One important caveat: these numbers come from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances heavily influence the medians. If your child plans to stop at a bachelor's degree and needs immediate earning power, those first-year numbers might feel tight. But for students using biology as a stepping stone to grad school or professional programs, the debt level is manageable and the growth pattern is encouraging.