Biology at State University of New York at Cortland

SUNY Cortland's biology program starts rough but transforms into something impressive. That $29,383 first-year salary lands well below both state and national medians for biology graduates, but by year four, earnings more than double to $65,127—nearly twice what the typical New York biology graduate makes at that stage. This 122% growth trajectory suggests many graduates are entering graduate programs, medical school, or gaining required credentials before their careers truly launch.

The $26,000 debt load is manageable and typical for the field, though that initial 0.88 debt-to-earnings ratio means the first year or two will feel financially tight. What matters here is whether your student has the patience and financial runway to weather that early period. Among New York's 92 biology programs, Cortland sits at the 40th percentile for first-year earnings—solidly middle-of-the-pack—but those four-year outcomes tell a very different story about career trajectory.

For families who can support a student through graduate school or a difficult first year (potentially in lab tech or research assistant roles), this program delivers strong eventual outcomes at a reasonable price. If your child needs immediate post-graduation earnings to start repaying loans, however, those first-year numbers present a real challenge. The key question is: what's your student planning to do with this biology degree?