Biology at Shepherd University

Shepherd University's biology graduates report first-year earnings of $49,165—nearly double the state median and $17,000 above the national median. That places this program in the 95th percentile both nationally and within West Virginia, where it substantially outperforms schools like WVU and West Liberty. The $21,937 median debt is also below the national average for biology degrees.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45 means graduates owe less than half their first-year salary, a manageable burden that most financial advisors would consider healthy. A biology graduate here would need roughly five months of gross income to cover their debt—far better than the typical STEM graduate's situation.

The significant caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could shift considerably year to year. A small cohort where several students landed physician assistant positions or pharmaceutical sales roles could skew the average dramatically. The 96% admission rate and modest SAT scores suggest Shepherd isn't highly selective, which makes these exceptional outcomes either a genuine program strength or a statistical fluke. For parents considering this program, the numbers look excellent but warrant a deeper conversation with the department about typical career paths and whether recent placements are representative.