Biology at Saint Ambrose University

Saint Ambrose's biology program shows a striking earnings pattern that should draw your attention: graduates start below both state and national averages at just $30,825, but nearly double their income to $61,468 by year four. That 99% growth rate suggests many graduates are successfully entering graduate or professional programs after initially working in labs or lower-paying healthcare positions. However, with a sample size under 30 students, these numbers could fluctuate significantly year-to-year.

The debt picture here is genuinely favorable—at $27,000, it matches the Iowa median and sits in just the 5th percentile nationally for biology programs, meaning 95% of comparable programs leave students with more debt. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.88 is manageable, especially given how quickly earnings increase. Still, that first-year salary lags behind several Iowa competitors: Upper Iowa and Grand View graduates start around $43,000, a $12,000 difference that could matter if your child isn't planning on graduate school.

The key question is whether your student intends to pursue advanced degrees. If they're headed to medical, dental, or graduate school—which the earnings trajectory suggests many do—starting salary matters less than keeping debt low, where Saint Ambrose delivers. If they want to work immediately after graduation, those higher-paying Iowa alternatives might serve them better. The small sample size means you should ask the school directly about placement rates and whether these patterns hold consistently.