Biology at Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland Campus

An associate degree in biology from Rowan-Cumberland costs relatively little—$9,500 in median debt is below the national average—but the immediate payoff is modest. At $25,000 one year out, graduates earn slightly below the national median for biology associate degrees, though they're performing right at the New Jersey state median. This places the program in the 60th percentile statewide, meaning it outperforms most other New Jersey biology associate programs despite the lukewarm initial earnings.

The real story here is the trajectory: earnings jump 66% to over $41,000 by year four. That kind of growth suggests graduates are either continuing their education or moving into technical roles that value the credential over time. With debt representing just 38% of first-year earnings, the financial burden remains manageable even during that initial low-earning period.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year, but the combination of low debt and strong earnings growth makes this a defensible stepping stone. For students planning to transfer to a four-year program or enter healthcare-adjacent fields, the program offers affordable access without creating financial strain. Just understand that immediate post-graduation earnings won't support independence right away.