Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology at Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Rutgers-New Brunswick's ecology program posts first-year earnings of $39,491—significantly above the national median of $29,460 for this field, placing graduates in the 95th percentile nationally. However, that impressive national ranking tells only part of the story: among New Jersey's six ecology programs, this lands in the 60th percentile, trailing Princeton's $53,038 by a wide margin. The $27,000 debt load equals the state median but remains relatively manageable with a 0.68 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe less than seven months of salary.

The caveat here matters: with fewer than 30 graduates in the sample, a few high or low earners can significantly skew the numbers. That said, Rutgers offers a notable advantage over most national peers while keeping debt in check—graduates here carry less than the national median of $23,480 despite higher absolute earnings. For families weighing in-state options, this represents solid value compared to private alternatives like Monmouth ($25,004 earnings), even if it can't match Princeton's outcomes.

If your child is genuinely committed to ecology and staying in New Jersey, Rutgers delivers competitive earnings at a reasonable debt level. The small sample size means you should speak with department advisors about typical career paths, but the fundamentals suggest this won't saddle graduates with crushing debt relative to what they'll earn.