Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology at Loyola University Chicago

Loyola's biochemistry program shows strong earnings growth but starts from a modest baseline, and with fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, these numbers could shift considerably. First-year earnings of $38,487 sit right at the national median, though graduates outperform 60% of similar Illinois programs—a meaningful advantage in a state with 26 competing programs. The $25,000 debt load is reasonable at 0.65 times first-year earnings, and graduates see their income jump 57% by year four, reaching over $60,000.

The catch is that small sample warning: patterns can look very different when you're tracking 15 graduates versus 150. What the data does suggest is that Loyola students who complete this degree find their way to better opportunities than most Illinois peers within a few years, despite the program's moderate entry point. That 60th percentile state ranking matters for students likely attending in-state, and the debt burden won't be crushing even if your child's trajectory differs from the median.

For families comfortable with the inherent uncertainty in limited data, this looks like a solid middle-ground choice—not a standout program compared to top biochemistry schools nationally, but positioned well within Illinois and paired with manageable debt. Just know you're making decisions based on a thin track record that could easily swing 20% in either direction.