Human Biology at Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins' Human Biology program shows strikingly low first-year earnings of just under $20,000—less than two-thirds the national median for this degree. That 12th percentile national ranking is genuinely concerning, particularly given the program's 8% admission rate and sky-high SAT scores. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could be heavily influenced by students pursuing unpaid research positions, gap years before medical school, or graduate programs, but parents should understand that immediate post-graduation earning power appears weak compared to peer institutions.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $12,138, it's below the national median and creates a manageable 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio. However, context matters—this is the only Human Biology program tracked in Maryland, so the 60th state percentile ranking is meaningless. What matters is the comparison to the $31,690 national median, which this program significantly underperforms.

If your child is using this degree as a stepping stone to medical school or a PhD program, the low initial earnings may not matter. But if they're planning to work immediately after graduation, understand that they'll likely start well behind peers from other institutions. The modest debt load provides breathing room, but doesn't change the fundamental question: why do Hopkins Human Biology graduates earn so much less than the national average?