Biology at Mississippi State University

Mississippi State's Biology program starts graduates at a concerning $20,056—well below both the state median of $21,325 and dramatically under the national average of $32,316. That initial figure places this program in just the 5th percentile nationally. But here's what matters: by year four, earnings jump to $52,302, surging past not only Mississippi's typical biology graduate but also the national benchmark by over $20,000. That 161% growth rate suggests many graduates are either continuing to professional school or entering healthcare fields where initial positions give way to significantly better-paying roles.

The $23,313 debt load is reasonable—slightly below both state and national medians—but that first-year debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.16 means new graduates will face tight budgets initially. Mississippi State ranks middle-of-the-pack among state biology programs at the 40th percentile, trailing Alcorn State and several others, but its graduates clearly find pathways to strong mid-career earnings that others don't achieve as consistently.

For parents, the question is whether your student will stick with biology through to medical school, pharmacy, or another advanced degree where those year-four earnings become the norm. If they're likely to stop at the bachelor's degree without further credentials, that first year will be financially challenging. But for students using this as a springboard to healthcare or graduate programs, the trajectory justifies the investment.