Biology at Morehouse College

The small sample size here demands caution, but the numbers tell an unusually dramatic story. Morehouse biology graduates earn just $19,679 in their first year—placing them in the bottom 5% nationally and well below Georgia's median of $27,488. That's less than what many graduates earn without a degree. Yet by year four, earnings vault to $71,611, suggesting many students pursue medical school, pharmacy programs, or other advanced degrees that initially delay earnings but ultimately pay off substantially.

This trajectory makes the $24,543 in debt relatively manageable in the long run, but parents should understand they may need to support their graduate financially through those crucial early years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.25 looks concerning on paper, but it's misleading if your child plans to continue their education. The real question is whether your family can weather a period where your graduate earns poverty-level wages while pursuing further training.

If your child is set on medical or graduate school, this pattern may be exactly what you'd expect from a successful pre-med pipeline. But if they're planning to work immediately after graduation with just a bachelor's, the first-year numbers should give you serious pause—other Georgia biology programs like Middle Georgia State ($35,281) deliver much stronger immediate earnings. Know which path your child is on before committing.