Biology at Indiana University-Southeast

Indiana University-Southeast's biology program produces graduates earning $35,707 in their first year—beating the national median by $3,400 and landing in the 72nd percentile nationally. That's solid performance for a regional campus where 34% of students receive Pell grants and admission is accessible. The debt load of $24,890 translates to a 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe less than they earn in their first year—a manageable situation that gets better as earnings grow 16% by year four.

However, context matters: while these grads outperform most biology programs nationally, they land near the middle of Indiana's pack (40th percentile), trailing programs like Indiana State ($43,656) and Purdue ($40,145) by significant margins. For families paying in-state tuition, this gap is worth considering. The biology degree pathway often requires graduate school for higher-earning positions, so these early-career numbers may not tell the full story.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these figures could swing considerably year-to-year. For families prioritizing accessibility and a reasonable debt load over maximum earning potential, IU-Southeast delivers a competent biology foundation without crushing financial burden. Just understand you're trading some earning power compared to the state's flagship programs.