Biology at Queens University of Charlotte

A $29,163 starting salary with nearly $27,000 in debt creates a challenging first year for Queens biology graduates—you're looking at debt equal to 92% of annual earnings, significantly above the recommended 50-60% threshold. While the debt load is actually lower than what most biology students nationally carry, the earnings fall short both statewide (40th percentile) and nationally (31st percentile). For context, North Carolina State's biology grads earn $36,000 right out of college, and even East Carolina clears $38,000.

The small sample size here matters. With fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, these numbers could swing considerably year to year. That said, the pattern suggests Queens biology students face a tougher start than peers at larger public universities. The 68% admission rate and moderate SAT scores indicate this isn't a highly selective program, which often correlates with weaker alumni networks and fewer research opportunities that boost biology career prospects.

If your child is committed to biology, the North Carolina public universities offer substantially better earnings potential at likely lower cost. Queens might make sense for students who need the smaller campus environment and personalized attention, but financially, you're paying a premium for an outcome that lags behind more affordable in-state options by $7,000-9,000 annually—a gap that compounds quickly when you're already managing significant debt.