Biology at Loyola Marymount University

Loyola Marymount's biology program presents a puzzling trajectory: graduates start at just $22,600—roughly a third of what they'd earn from the University of San Diego and 32% below California's median. This places LMU in the bottom 10th percentile among California biology programs at the one-year mark. However, by year four, earnings jump to nearly $59,000, suggesting many graduates pursue graduate school or take time to enter higher-paying career paths. That's an impressive 159% increase, but it requires surviving on below-average earnings for those initial years.

The debt picture adds another layer of complexity. At $24,625, borrowing is slightly below the national average but notably higher than California's $20,500 median. With first-year earnings so low, graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.09, meaning they owe more than an entire year's starting salary. The program serves few Pell Grant recipients (13%), suggesting most students come from families who can likely provide financial support during those lean early years.

If your child is certain about graduate or professional school, that eventual $59,000 salary softens the difficult start. But families should plan for significant financial support in those first few years—this isn't a program where graduates immediately become self-sufficient. Students targeting immediate employment after graduation would likely fare better at several Cal State campuses, where starting salaries nearly double LMU's.