Biology at Oregon Institute of Technology

With just $28,606 in first-year earnings, Oregon Tech's biology program produces outcomes that fall below both state and national benchmarks—landing in the 27th percentile nationally and 40th within Oregon. That's roughly $4,000 less than what Oregon biology grads typically earn and nearly $7,000 behind programs like University of Oregon or Eastern Oregon University. The debt load of $24,328 is slightly better than average, but when matched against these below-average earnings, graduates face a challenging start.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could swing significantly in either direction, so they shouldn't be treated as gospel. However, the pattern is concerning enough to warrant investigation: if your child is considering biology as a pre-med or research pathway, they should confirm what percentage of Oregon Tech biology graduates successfully continue to graduate programs, where real earning potential materializes. A biology bachelor's alone often leads to lab technician roles in the high-20s salary range.

Before committing, compare this directly to University of Oregon ($35,483 first-year earnings) or even Southern Oregon University ($33,930), both of which deliver substantially better returns. Unless Oregon Tech offers specific research opportunities, faculty relationships, or graduate school placement rates that justify the earnings gap, the in-state alternatives present clearer value.