Biology at Stephen F Austin State University

Stephen F. Austin's biology program starts graduates at below-average earnings—roughly $3,000 under the national median and $1,000 below the Texas state median—but shows something noteworthy in the growth trajectory. By year four, median earnings jump to $48,416, a 65% increase that vaults graduates well past typical biology majors nationwide. This suggests the program may be feeding into career paths that require initial credentialing or training before reaching standard professional salaries.

The $21,500 debt burden sits comfortably below both state and national medians, which matters given that first-year salary. While the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.73 isn't ideal, it's manageable, and graduates appear to be catching up financially by mid-career. Among Texas's 70 biology programs, this one ranks near the 40th percentile—solidly middle-of-the-pack in a competitive state market. Programs at Southern Methodist or Texas State do place graduates into higher starting salaries, but they likely also carry different price tags.

The real question is whether your student can weather that challenging first year or two financially. If they're planning graduate school, healthcare credentialing, or another path that explains the delayed earnings, this program offers reasonable debt with strong upward momentum. If they need immediate post-graduation income, the initial $29,000 salary deserves careful consideration against living costs and loan payments.