Biology at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus

Fairleigh Dickinson's biology graduates face a tough first year, earning just $26,418—about $6,000 below both national and New Jersey medians for the degree. Among Garden State biology programs, this ranks in only the 25th percentile, trailing not just private competitors like Rider but also public universities like Montclair State and William Paterson by $10,000-15,000. With $25,000 in debt, new graduates are looking at nearly their entire first-year salary going to loan payments before living expenses.

The dramatic turnaround by year four tells a different story. Earnings more than double to $55,349, suggesting graduates who survive those initial lean years may find their footing in graduate programs, healthcare roles, or research positions. But that recovery pattern raises a practical question: can your child manage 12-18 months of near-poverty wages while handling substantial debt payments? The strong admission rate and significant Pell enrollment indicate FDU serves students who may not have family financial cushions to fall back on.

Unless your child has concrete plans for immediate graduate school (where stipends would help) or guaranteed family support through that difficult first year, this program's delayed payoff makes it a risky choice. The moderately sized sample suggests this pattern is reasonably reliable, but you're essentially betting on a four-year timeline when the debt clock starts ticking immediately.