Biology at Metropolitan State University

Metropolitan State's biology graduates earn substantially more than typical biology majors—$42,128 within a year of graduation puts them in the 95th percentile nationally. The debt load of $28,619 is only slightly above national norms, creating a manageable 0.68 debt-to-earnings ratio that beats most biology programs nationwide. For a school with a 96% admission rate serving primarily working adults and transfer students (44% receive Pell grants), these outcomes are impressive.

The Minnesota comparison adds nuance. While Metropolitan State's biology program outperforms the vast majority of schools nationally, it lands at the 60th percentile within Minnesota, trailing schools like Saint Cloud State ($44,166) and St. Catherine ($40,937). This isn't surprising—Minnesota has an unusually strong landscape of public universities, and Metropolitan State's slightly higher debt ($28,619 vs. $25,499 state median) reflects this competitive environment. Still, the 19% earnings growth to $50,242 by year four demonstrates solid career progression.

For parents of students who might not gain admission to Minnesota's more selective institutions, this program offers a practical path to respectable biology earnings. The combination of high accessibility, reasonable debt, and above-average earning power makes it a viable option, though families should recognize that other Minnesota public universities may deliver marginally better outcomes at similar or lower cost.