Biology at St Philip's College

St. Philip's College biology graduates are earning $35,699 just one year out—nearly $8,000 more than the Texas median and over $9,000 above the national average for associate biology programs. Among the 46 Texas schools offering this degree, St. Philip's ranks in the 80th percentile for earnings, trailing only Austin Community College in the San Antonio area. That's remarkable performance for a program serving a student population where just over one-fifth receive Pell grants.

The debt picture strengthens the case: at $12,718, graduates are borrowing only slightly more than typical for this degree, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36—well within manageable territory. Students are essentially borrowing about four months of their first-year salary, a level that shouldn't strain most budgets. This isn't the lowest-debt option in Texas, but paired with the strong earnings, it represents a solid return.

The major caveat is the small sample size of under 30 graduates, which means these numbers could shift significantly year to year. However, if your student is committed to biology and planning to transfer to a four-year program or enter the workforce immediately, St. Philip's appears to be setting graduates up well. The earnings advantage over comparable Texas programs suggests either strong local employer relationships or students who are well-prepared for the next step.