Biology at Florida Southern College

Florida Southern's biology program comes with a significant asterisk: fewer than 30 graduates provided this data, so these numbers may not tell the full story. That said, the pattern here suggests graduates start slowly but make meaningful progress—earnings jump 29% from $29,222 to $37,552 over four years, eventually exceeding Florida's median for biology majors by about $10,500.

The most encouraging aspect is the debt picture. At $27,000, graduates borrow more than Florida's typical biology student ($21,750) but still rank in the 5th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of biology programs nationwide leave students with higher debt. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.92 is manageable, especially considering that fourth-year earnings growth. What's less encouraging: that first year is rough. Starting at $29,222 means working or living at home may be necessary initially, and Florida Southern's graduates earn less out of the gate than peers at community colleges like St. Petersburg or Miami Dade.

The small sample size matters here. With under 30 graduates reporting, a few outliers could skew these numbers significantly. If your child is considering this program, dig deeper: ask about graduate school placement rates (many biology majors continue their education), job placement support, and whether recent cohorts show similar patterns. The combination of modest debt and solid earnings growth could work, but that rocky first year needs a financial cushion.