Biology at San Antonio College

San Antonio College's associate biology program starts slow but gains momentum—graduates earn just $26,835 in the first year but see a 71% jump to nearly $46,000 by year four. That growth trajectory is impressive, though the initial earnings lag behind the Texas median by about $1,000 and sit well below top performers like St. Philip's College ($35,699) and Austin Community College ($34,560), which rank among the state's strongest programs.

The $9,500 in median debt is reasonable, coming in below both state and national averages. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35, graduates can realistically manage repayment if they can weather those lean first couple of years—likely while working their way through prerequisite courses or entry-level positions before transferring to bachelor's programs or moving into better-paying healthcare roles. The challenge is that 40th percentile ranking in Texas suggests students might find stronger launching pads elsewhere in the state if they have options.

For families looking at this as a stepping stone to nursing or other health sciences programs, the numbers work if your child stays the course through year four. But if they need immediate earnings to support themselves post-graduation, those first-year wages could be tough to manage, even with the relatively modest debt load.