Biological and Physical Sciences at St. Thomas Aquinas College

Is $36,000 in first-year earnings enough to justify $26,000 in debt for a biological and physical sciences degree? Peer programs in New York suggest that's roughly what graduates from this type of program earn, placing St. Thomas Aquinas College's estimated outcomes right at the state median. The debt load—also estimated from similar bachelor's programs at comparable institutions—sits slightly above the national typical of $24,250, though not dramatically so. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72 means graduates would owe about 8-9 months of their first-year salary, a manageable threshold if those initial earnings hold steady.

The challenge with biological and physical sciences degrees is what comes next. These programs often serve as stepping stones to graduate school, professional programs, or specialized certifications where the real earning power develops. If your child plans to enter the workforce immediately after graduation, $36,000 represents a modest starting point—functional but not financially comfortable in the New York metro area. The estimated figures here mirror what Hunter College grads report earning, which suggests the projection isn't wildly optimistic, but without actual data from St. Thomas Aquinas itself, there's inherent uncertainty about how their specific program performs.

Before committing, get concrete placement information directly from the school: where do recent graduates actually end up, and what are they earning two or three years out? The estimated numbers suggest a reasonable foundation, but in a field where career trajectory matters enormously, you need evidence that this particular program launches students toward their next step effectively.