Biology at Nicholls State University

That $23,672 starting salary is genuinely concerning—it falls in the bottom 5% nationally for biology graduates and sits well below even Louisiana's modest median of $27,164. While the program ranks at the 40th percentile within Louisiana, that's cold comfort when the state's own biology programs are already underperforming nationally. The debt load is relatively manageable at $22,187, creating a nearly 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio, but that math only works if you can live on less than $24,000 annually while making loan payments.

The real question is what these graduates are doing immediately after graduation. Biology bachelor's degrees often lead to low-paying lab technician or research assistant positions, with the expectation that students will pursue graduate or professional school. If your child plans to continue their education, this might be acceptable as a stepping stone—but if they're hoping to start a career and become financially independent right after graduation, these numbers suggest they'll struggle. For context, this starting salary is roughly what Louisiana's minimum wage would yield working full-time.

Given the small sample size, these figures might not tell the complete story. However, parents should recognize that even Louisiana's strongest biology programs—like Southern University at $36,095—barely crack the national 50th percentile. If biology is the goal, stronger out-of-state options likely justify the higher tuition for better career outcomes.