Biology at Lebanon Valley College

Lebanon Valley's biology program shows stronger earnings growth than most competing programs, though the limited sample size (under 30 graduates) means individual career paths can skew these numbers significantly. The $27,000 debt load is manageable—it matches both state and national medians and falls in the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of biology programs leave students with more debt.

The earnings trajectory tells an interesting story. While graduates start below Pennsylvania's state median at $33,783, they jump to $50,498 by year four—a 50% increase that outpaces typical biology career progression. However, that fourth-year figure still lags behind what graduates from Lehigh, Holy Family, and several other PA programs earn. The program ranks in the 40th percentile statewide, meaning six in ten Pennsylvania biology programs produce higher early earnings.

For parents, the small sample size is the elephant in the room. With fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers might reflect just a handful of successful career paths rather than a reliable pattern. The combination of reasonable debt and strong earnings growth suggests decent value if your child is self-motivated—biology grads typically need graduate school for the highest-paying careers anyway, so starting with lower debt matters. But if maximizing undergraduate ROI is the priority, other Pennsylvania schools demonstrate more consistent earning power for biology majors.