Biology at Oklahoma Panhandle State University

Oklahoma Panhandle State's biology graduates earn $38,440 in their first year—outpacing the national median by nearly $6,000 and ranking in the 86th percentile nationally. Within Oklahoma, these earnings place in the 60th percentile, trailing programs like Northeastern State but beating roughly half the state's biology offerings. The $25,290 debt load sits near both national and state medians, translating to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. That means graduates owe about eight months of their first-year salary, which is reasonable for a biology degree.

The stagnant earnings trajectory deserves attention: graduates show essentially no income growth between years one and four. While the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means individual career paths could skew these numbers significantly, the flat trend suggests this program may not open doors to the kind of advancement many biology majors expect. Biology degrees often serve as stepping stones to graduate programs or professional schools, so if your child plans to stop at a bachelor's, understanding the earnings ceiling matters.

For families seeking an affordable biology degree with above-average starting pay, this program delivers solid initial returns. Just recognize that the four-year data—limited as it is—suggests early earnings may represent the plateau rather than the starting point.