Biology at Rutgers University-Camden

At first glance, Rutgers-Camden's biology program might seem unremarkable with starting salaries around $32,000, but the real story emerges by year four. These graduates see their earnings jump 78% to nearly $57,000—a growth trajectory that outpaces most biology programs nationally. While the program ranks at the 48th percentile nationally, it performs better within New Jersey at the 60th percentile, suggesting solid regional opportunities for graduates.

The debt picture is reasonable at $24,161, creating a manageable 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio that should allow graduates to service loans comfortably even in that lower-earning first year. What's particularly encouraging is that several top New Jersey biology programs like Centenary ($44,312) and William Paterson ($42,492) show much higher starting salaries, but Rutgers-Camden graduates appear to be catching up significantly by year four.

For parents, this program represents a solid middle-ground choice—not the highest-performing biology program in the state, but one that combines reasonable debt levels with strong earnings growth potential. The 78% admission rate makes it accessible, while the robust sample size of 100+ graduates gives confidence in these outcomes. If your child can handle the initial lower earnings period, this program appears to deliver good long-term value.