Biology at Northwest Vista College

Northwest Vista College's biology associate program turns in solid numbers for a community college pathway, particularly for students planning to transfer or gain immediate lab experience. At $28,923 first-year and $33,961 by year four, graduates earn more than 71% of biology associate programs nationally and rank at the 60th percentile in Texas—respectable performance in a state with 46 competing programs. The 17% earnings growth suggests graduates are finding their footing in healthcare support roles or laboratory positions while potentially continuing their education.

The debt picture makes this program accessible: $10,708 is nearly identical to both state and national medians, and with a 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates owe roughly 4.5 months of first-year salary. That's manageable territory for an associate degree, especially for students who use this as a stepping stone to a bachelor's program or secure steady work in medical labs or research facilities.

For San Antonio families, this represents a practical entry point into the sciences without the premium charged by top performers like St. Philip's College ($35,699). The moderate sample size and low Pell grant percentage (21%) suggest you're seeing outcomes from a relatively selective subset of students. If your child is using this as transfer preparation or needs credentials for lab work while figuring out their next move, the math works—just recognize they're unlikely to reach top-tier Texas associate earnings without additional credentials or career pivots.