Biology at Seattle Pacific University

Washington's biology bachelor's programs suggest first-year earnings around $35,000—slightly above the national median for this field, though still modest given the degree level. With an estimated debt load of $22,500 based on similar programs at Seattle Pacific, you're looking at a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64, which is manageable but leaves little financial cushion in those early years. Biology graduates often pursue additional schooling or need time to break into better-paying lab or healthcare roles, so that initial salary may not tell the full story of career trajectory.

The comparison to Washington's flagship universities is instructive: UW's campuses and nearby private schools like Seattle University report biology graduates earning $37,000-$39,000 in their first year—about $2,000-$4,000 more than peer programs suggest for Seattle Pacific. That gap isn't enormous, but it compounds over time, and those schools may offer stronger research infrastructure or alumni networks in Seattle's biotech sector. The 91% admission rate here signals less competitive entry, which could matter for graduate school applications down the line.

For a student planning to work immediately after graduation, the estimated debt burden is reasonable but the earnings are tight for Seattle's cost of living. If graduate school is likely—and for many biology majors it is—accumulating undergraduate debt before taking on more should factor heavily into your decision. The program may serve pre-health students well, but lab-bound graduates might find better financial footing at programs with stronger placement data.