Biology at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

That $26,044 starting salary—barely above the poverty line for a family of four—explains why this program ranks in just the 16th percentile nationally for biology degrees. While the debt load of $20,375 is actually lower than typical biology programs, a 0.78 debt-to-earnings ratio means your graduate would owe nearly their entire first-year salary. For context, University of Central Arkansas biology graduates earn $32,390 right out of the gate with similar debt, making their financial picture considerably stronger.

The small sample size here matters. With fewer than 30 recent graduates tracked, these numbers could swing significantly year to year. That said, even if we assume some statistical noise, there's a $6,000 gap between these earnings and Arkansas's median for biology programs—that's real money when you're starting out. The 40th percentile state ranking suggests this isn't just bad luck with a few data points.

For a parent, the question is whether your child has specific reasons to choose Southern Arkansas University—perhaps family proximity or a particular mentor. If they're simply pursuing biology and considering Arkansas schools, the data suggests looking at UCA, UALR, or Arkansas Tech, where graduates are clearing $29,500+ in year one. That extra $3,500-$6,300 annually makes a meaningful difference when you're servicing student loans.