Biology at Keene State College

Keene State's biology program punches well above its weight class nationally while landing solidly in the middle of New Hampshire's competitive life sciences market. With first-year earnings of $43,624, graduates earn 35% more than the national median for biology majors—ranking in the 95th percentile nationwide. That's impressive for a program at an 89% admission-rate public college. Within New Hampshire, however, the picture is more nuanced: earnings trail UNH's flagship programs by about $1,700 but comfortably exceed smaller private colleges like Saint Anselm.

The financial fundamentals look sound. At $26,000 in median debt—slightly below both state and national averages—students face a manageable 0.60 debt-to-earnings ratio. More importantly, earnings grow 19% by year four, reaching nearly $52,000, which suggests graduates are finding career traction rather than hitting a ceiling. For a biology degree, which often serves as a stepping stone to graduate programs or healthcare careers, this trajectory matters more than the starting salary alone.

The value proposition here is straightforward: families get top-tier national outcomes at New Hampshire public school prices. While this won't match UNH's research university advantages, it delivers stronger results than most biology programs nationwide, with debt levels that won't derail future plans for medical school, graduate work, or direct entry into laboratory and healthcare positions.