Biology at Hartwick College

Hartwick's biology program shows first-year earnings ($38,467) that outpace 87% of biology programs nationally, though this ranks closer to the middle (60th percentile) against other New York schools—a reflection of the state's competitive life sciences landscape. With $27,000 in debt, graduates face manageable borrowing that's actually lower than both state and national medians, creating a favorable 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio that improves significantly as careers progress.

The 40% earnings jump from year one to year four suggests graduates are moving into better positions, likely in research labs, healthcare settings, or graduate programs. While Hartwick can't match the elite earnings of Barnard or Hamilton, it's delivering outcomes comparable to much larger institutions like Columbia, and doing so with lower debt loads. For a biology degree that often serves as a stepping stone to graduate school, entering the workforce with $27,000 rather than the typical $25,000+ baseline leaves more flexibility for future education.

The major caveat: sample size here is small, meaning these numbers could shift considerably year to year. But the combination of above-average starting salaries, strong earnings growth, and modest debt makes this worth serious consideration for families prioritizing a solid foundation in the sciences without overwhelming financial pressure.