Biology at Oral Roberts University

Oral Roberts' biology program produces earnings that lag both Oklahoma and national benchmarks, landing in the 40th percentile statewide despite relatively low debt. First-year graduates earn $29,582—about $1,200 below the Oklahoma median and nearly $3,000 below the national average. The state's top performers like Oklahoma Panhandle State and Northeastern State deliver salaries $7,000-$9,000 higher, suggesting significant variation in outcomes across Oklahoma biology programs.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $28,500, graduates carry about $6,500 more than the typical Oklahoma biology student but still maintain a near 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio. This keeps monthly payments manageable in the short term, though the below-median starting salary may limit career flexibility early on. Biology often serves as a stepping stone to graduate programs in medicine or research, so if your child plans additional education, factor in how these modest starting earnings will affect their ability to manage undergraduate debt while pursuing advanced degrees.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, making it an unreliable predictor of your child's individual outcome. Combined with ORU's 99% admission rate, this suggests the program may be quite small. For a biology degree that performs in the middle of Oklahoma's pack—but significantly below the state's best options—consider whether ORU's specific environment justifies choosing it over stronger-performing alternatives like Oklahoma Panhandle State or Northeastern State.