Biology at Johnson C Smith University

Johnson C Smith's biology program shows first-year earnings of $28,675—below both the state median ($30,692) and national average ($32,316). While the 40th percentile ranking among North Carolina programs suggests roughly middle-of-the-pack performance in-state, graduates here earn about $10,000 less than peers at NC State and nearly $15,000 less than those from nearby Meredith College. The program does keep debt relatively low at $28,123, landing in the 5th percentile nationally (meaning 95% of biology programs have higher debt loads), which partially offsets the earnings gap.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.98 means graduates face nearly a full year's salary in loans—manageable but not ideal, especially given the modest starting salary. With 68% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are counting on strong post-graduation outcomes to justify the investment. The earnings data suggests students interested in biology might find better financial outcomes at larger public universities in the state.

An important caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers may not represent the typical experience. Individual outcomes vary widely in biology depending on whether graduates pursue graduate school, medical school, or enter the workforce directly. For families whose alternative is significantly higher debt at a private institution, this program keeps borrowing controlled—but for those with access to NC's public universities, the earnings premium elsewhere appears substantial.