Biology at New York University

NYU's highly selective biology program produces surprisingly modest outcomes given the school's prestigious reputation. At $30,913 in first-year earnings, graduates earn below both the New York state median ($32,738) and national average ($32,316)—landing in just the 40th percentile among New York biology programs. While the debt load of $21,250 is manageable, it's still striking that several CUNY schools and liberal arts colleges produce significantly higher earnings, with Barnard biology grads earning $47,000 and even Medgar Evers outpacing NYU at nearly $40,000.

The silver lining is genuine earnings growth: incomes climb 34% to $41,300 by year four, suggesting graduates may be taking research assistant positions or graduate school prep roles that eventually lead to better opportunities. However, this growth merely brings them to parity with what graduates from other top New York programs earn right out of college. For a school with a 9% admission rate and 1527 average SAT, you'd expect stronger immediate returns—especially in a state with 92 biology programs to choose from.

If your child is set on NYU biology, understand that you're betting on the long game and the prestige factor opening doors later. The early earnings don't justify the opportunity cost of turning down stronger-performing programs, particularly if graduate school isn't part of the plan. This looks more like a stepping stone degree than a direct path to strong career outcomes.