Biology at Frostburg State University

Frostburg State's biology program lands squarely in the middle nationally but lags behind most Maryland alternatives—a significant detail since in-state tuition often drives where students attend. While first-year earnings of $33,192 edge above the national median, the program sits in just the 40th percentile within Maryland, trailing the state median by about $700. That gap becomes more pronounced when you see that every top-performing Maryland biology program posts significantly higher earnings, with University of Maryland Eastern Shore graduates earning over $4,000 more annually.

The debt picture offers modest relief: at $24,309, graduates here borrow slightly less than typical biology majors nationwide and well below Maryland's state median. The 0.73 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable compared to many science programs. However, with fewer than 30 graduates in this cohort, these numbers could swing considerably year to year, making them less reliable predictors than data from larger programs.

For families prioritizing Frostburg for location or campus fit, the math isn't alarming—graduates can reasonably manage their debt on typical biology salaries. But if maximizing early career earnings matters, other Maryland public universities deliver stronger returns without necessarily requiring more borrowing. The value case here depends heavily on whether Frostburg offers specific advantages beyond the earnings data.