Biology at St. Francis College

St. Francis College's biology program starts graduates at a severe earnings disadvantage—$22,140 places them in the bottom 10% of New York biology programs and bottom 5% nationally. That first-year figure is roughly $10,000 below both state and national medians, and it means graduates are carrying debt equal to 122% of their initial salary. For a family already stretching to afford college (47% of students receive Pell grants), that's a precarious financial position right out of the gate.

The earnings picture does improve dramatically, with the median climbing to $42,563 by year four—a 92% increase that outpaces typical biology program growth. This suggests graduates may be starting in lower-paying lab or technician roles before transitioning into better positions. However, even with that recovery, the program still lags behind most New York biology degrees. Compare to CUNY Medgar Evers, which serves a similar demographic but starts graduates at nearly double St. Francis's first-year earnings.

The core challenge here is the lost ground in those crucial first years after graduation. Biology graduates typically pursue graduate school, healthcare roles, or research positions—paths where that initial salary matters for building savings or managing debt. Unless a student has specific career plans that justify this trajectory, New York offers stronger biology programs at both private colleges and within the more affordable CUNY system.