Analysis
Keiser's biology program produces graduates who earn $34,287 their first year—placing them in the 80th percentile among Florida biology programs and well above the state median of $27,034. That's competitive with better-known universities like Florida A&M and The University of Tampa, which suggests the program delivers solid career preparation despite Keiser's 97% acceptance rate.
The significant concern is the debt load. At $39,000, graduates carry roughly 56% more debt than typical biology majors nationwide, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.14. For context, biology bachelor's degrees generally struggle with return on investment compared to other STEM fields—biology graduates nationally earn around $32,000 their first year while often pursuing graduate school. At Keiser, you're getting above-average Florida outcomes but taking on substantially above-average debt to get there.
The calculation for families: Is paying roughly $18,000 more in debt worth earning $7,000 more annually than the typical Florida biology graduate? That depends on your child's graduate school plans and career path. If they're headed to medical school or a PhD program, first-year earnings matter less than preparation quality. If they're entering the workforce directly, the elevated debt will take roughly 4-5 years to pay off with disciplined budgeting. The program performs well competitively, but biology degrees rarely offer quick financial payoff regardless of where you earn them.
Where Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all biology bachelors's programs nationally
Earnings Distribution
How Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale graduates compare to all programs nationally
Compare to Similar Programs in Florida
Biology bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Florida (38 total in state)
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Keiser University-Ft LauderdaleFort Lauderdale | $24,136 | $34,287 | — | $39,000 | 1.14 |
 St Petersburg CollegeSt. Petersburg | $2,682 | $37,741 | — | $40,916 | 1.08 |
 Miami Dade CollegeMiami | $2,838 | $34,568 | — | $13,750 | 0.40 |
 Florida Agricultural and Mechanical UniversityTallahassee | $5,785 | $34,012 | $42,723 | $28,125 | 0.83 |
 The University of TampaTampa | $33,424 | $32,909 | — | $26,000 | 0.79 |
 Barry UniversityMiami | $33,450 | $32,556 | $37,193 | $30,500 | 0.94 |
| National Median | — | $32,316 | — | $25,000 | 0.77 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with biology graduates
Natural Sciences Managers
Clinical Research Coordinators
Water Resource Specialists
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Forensic Science Technicians
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Biological Technicians
Agricultural Technicians
Precision Agriculture Technicians
Food Science Technicians
Biological Scientists, All Other
About This Data
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)
Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale, approximately 58% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.
Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.
Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.
Sample Size: Based on 40 graduates with reported earnings and 75 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.