Biology at Lycoming College

Lycoming's biology program shows a debt picture slightly better than average, but its first-year earnings lag behind most Pennsylvania biology programs—landing at the 40th percentile statewide despite charging debt similar to the state median. With only $32,319 in typical first-year earnings compared to Pennsylvania's $35,122 median, graduates here start about $2,800 behind their in-state peers while carrying comparable debt loads.

The silver lining is meaningful earnings growth: graduates see their income jump 66% by year four, reaching $53,746. This trajectory suggests the program prepares students for career advancement, even if initial placements aren't exceptional. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.83 is manageable—better than many biology programs nationally—meaning graduates can reasonably service their loans once past those first lean years.

However, the sample size here is quite small (under 30 graduates tracked), which means these numbers could shift significantly with more data. For parents evaluating this investment, the key question is whether your student plans to pursue graduate work or professional school where the initial earning gap matters less, or whether they'll need those first-year earnings to support themselves immediately. If it's the latter, stronger-performing Pennsylvania programs might warrant a closer look.