Biology at Ohio Dominican University

The small sample size here demands caution, but the numbers tell an unusual story: Ohio Dominican biology graduates start modestly at $38,548, then see their earnings more than double to $83,827 by year four. That 118% jump is extraordinary and far exceeds typical biology career trajectories. First-year earnings place this program in the 87th percentile nationally—well above both the national median of $32,316 and Ohio's median of $31,017. Among Ohio's 62 biology programs, it ranks in the 60th percentile, competitive with Miami University branches and ahead of most state options. The $27,000 debt burden sits just above national norms and is manageable given the 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio.

The dramatic earnings surge suggests graduates may be entering professional or graduate programs (medical school, pharmacy, etc.) where biology degrees serve as stepping stones rather than endpoints. This would explain why early earnings look solid but not spectacular, while four-year earnings reach levels rarely seen for bachelor's-level biology positions. However, with fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, these figures could swing significantly year to year.

If your student plans to use biology as a pre-professional path and you can afford $27,000 in debt, these numbers are encouraging. But verify that the four-year earnings pattern reflects consistent outcomes, not just a few graduates skewing the data. For students planning to work immediately after graduation with just a bachelor's, the first-year salary is the more relevant metric—and while decent, it's not extraordinary.