Biology at Idaho State University

Idaho State's biology program starts weaker than most alternatives but demonstrates something parents should notice: dramatic income growth. That first-year salary of $27,866 ranks near the bottom nationally and sits below even BYU-Idaho within the state, but by year four, graduates reach $49,900—outpacing the typical biology graduate's trajectory and approaching professional-level income. This 79% jump suggests graduates are successfully transitioning into specialized roles, graduate programs, or healthcare positions that value the degree.

The $23,000 debt load runs slightly below both state and national medians, which matters when your graduate is earning under $28,000 initially. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.83 is manageable if that income trajectory holds, but families need a realistic plan for those lean first years. The moderate sample size gives reasonable confidence in these numbers, though they're not based on hundreds of graduates.

The key question is whether your student has a clear path beyond that bachelor's degree—whether that's medical school, physician assistant programs, or moving into laboratory management or research roles. If so, this combination of modest debt and strong earnings growth works. If they're planning to stop at the bachelor's level without a specific career strategy, that 24th percentile national ranking and below-average starting salary become harder to justify, especially when University of Idaho graduates start $11,500 higher.