Biology at Hobart William Smith Colleges

Hobart William Smith's biology program sits in the middle of a crowded field, with graduates earning slightly more than both national and New York state medians—$33,163 versus $32,316 nationally and $32,738 statewide. That 60th percentile ranking among New York biology programs means it performs modestly better than average, though notably behind elite schools like Barnard ($47,329) and Hamilton ($43,639). The relatively low debt burden of $27,000 is actually a strength here, falling in just the 5th percentile nationally—most biology programs saddle students with more debt for similar outcomes.

The 0.81 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe roughly 10 months of their first-year salary, which is manageable if they're using this degree as a stepping stone to graduate school or professional programs like medicine or dentistry. Biology bachelor's degrees rarely lead to high-paying immediate career options, so this outcome isn't surprising. The question is whether your student plans to continue their education—and whether a $27,000 undergraduate debt load positions them well for that path.

For families paying full freight at this selective liberal arts college, the investment calculus gets trickier. The relatively modest debt suggests decent financial aid, but first-year earnings alone won't justify a premium price tag. This works best for students committed to graduate school who value the college's close faculty mentorship and small class sizes as preparation for the next step.