Biology at Saint Vincent College

Saint Vincent's biology program shows stronger long-term outcomes than its first-year numbers suggest, though you're looking at a below-median position within Pennsylvania. Starting at $33,322, graduates reach $51,739 by year four—a 55% jump that outpaces typical biology career trajectories. That four-year mark beats the national median substantially and closes the gap with Pennsylvania's median considerably. The $27,000 debt load sits right at both national and state averages, creating a manageable burden that represents less than a year's salary at the four-year mark.

The catch is where this program stands among Pennsylvania's 85 biology programs: 40th percentile for earnings means six in ten PA schools deliver better salary outcomes. Compare this to top regional programs like Lehigh ($45,695) or Holy Family ($44,567), and you see Saint Vincent graduates earning about $10,000-15,000 less even at the four-year mark. That gap matters when tuition costs are similar.

The trajectory here matters for parents weighing this choice. If your child is committed to biology and Saint Vincent feels like the right cultural fit, the debt-to-earnings picture won't sink them—they'll be earning nearly double their debt by year four. But if prestige or maximum earning potential in Pennsylvania matters, stronger in-state options exist. Fair warning: the small sample size means a few outliers could be skewing these numbers either direction.