Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology at Siena College

Siena's biology graduates are outearning almost every comparable program in both New York and nationally—$37,789 versus a state median of just $23,682 and a national median of $29,460. That's a remarkable showing for an accessible liberal arts college, placing it above even NYU among New York programs. Combine those earnings with relatively modest debt ($27,000), and you get a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71—meaning graduates owe less than one year's salary, a manageable starting point.

The caveat here is sample size: fewer than 30 recent graduates provided this data, so individual circumstances could be skewing the numbers. Still, the pattern is striking. While ecology and evolution programs typically lead to lower initial earnings (the national median sits below $30,000), Siena's graduates appear to be finding better opportunities, possibly through strong regional networks or preparation for graduate programs that boost earning potential quickly.

For families concerned about biology majors struggling financially, this program appears to buck that trend. Just recognize that with a small program, your student's individual network-building and career planning will matter enormously. The data suggests Siena is doing something right—whether that's internship connections, advising, or student selectivity—but there's less certainty here than with larger programs where hundreds of graduates smooth out the averages.