Biology at South Texas College

South Texas College's biology associate program graduates start with earnings above both national and Texas medians, but there's a significant catch: four years later, median pay drops to $24,981—a 13% decline. With a small sample size (under 30 graduates), it's hard to know if this reflects a true pattern or statistical noise. That said, the initial earnings of $28,791 do rank respectably at the 60th percentile among Texas programs, suggesting the program isn't fundamentally weak.

The financial risk here is remarkably low. At just $6,602 in median debt—less than a quarter of first-year earnings—graduates face minimal repayment burden compared to the national median of $10,384. For families worried about debt, particularly in the McAllen area where many students receive Pell grants, this accessibility matters considerably.

The real question is whether this associate degree is meant as a stepping stone. If your student plans to transfer to a four-year institution and continue in biology, the low debt and reasonable starting point make sense. If they're stopping here, understand that biology associate degrees rarely lead to strong career trajectories on their own—the earnings decline may reflect graduates taking jobs that don't require the degree while they figure out next steps. Consider what comes after this program before investing even two years of time.