Biology at Northern Kentucky University

Northern Kentucky University's biology program outperforms both Kentucky and national benchmarks by substantial margins—graduates earn 60% more than the typical Kentucky biology major and 21% more than the national median. At $38,970 starting, this places NKU ahead of even the University of Kentucky's more selective program, ranking in the 80th percentile statewide despite the university's 96% acceptance rate.

The debt picture is equally compelling. With $23,950 in median debt—below both state and national averages—graduates face a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61. That translates to roughly half a year's salary in debt, well within reasonable bounds for a science degree. Earnings grow steadily to $43,852 by year four, suggesting the program prepares students for career progression rather than trapping them in entry-level positions.

For families weighing biology programs in Kentucky, NKU delivers the strongest financial outcome at a fraction of the selectivity (and likely stress) of more competitive options. The combination of lower debt and higher earnings makes this an unusually strong value proposition in a field where many graduates struggle with modest starting salaries.