Biology at Saint Edward's University

Saint Edward's biology graduates see impressive earnings growth, climbing from $33,597 in their first year to $49,126 by year four—a 46% jump that suggests many students successfully pivot into higher-paying health professions or graduate programs. Among Texas biology programs, this lands in the 60th percentile for earnings, performing ahead of the state median ($30,432) and surpassing larger public universities like Texas State. The $26,000 in typical debt sits slightly above the Texas median but remains manageable relative to the strong four-year earnings trajectory.

The first-year numbers tell only part of the story here. While that initial $33,597 is modest, the steep earnings curve indicates this program effectively prepares students for career advancement. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77 improves dramatically as graduates gain experience, and the below-median debt burden (38th percentile nationally) means students aren't overleveraged during those early years. For a private university in expensive Austin, these outcomes are notably pragmatic.

This works well for students planning to continue their education or enter fields like healthcare where earnings accelerate with credentials. If your child intends to stop at a bachelor's degree and stay in pure biology research, the slow start might stretch longer than the data suggests. But for pre-health students or those willing to leverage the degree toward better-paying roles, the trajectory justifies the investment.