Biology at Stetson University

Stetson's biology program places graduates near the middle of Florida schools but well below the national pack, with first-year earnings of $26,006 falling short of both the state median ($27,034) and national median ($32,316). More concerning, the debt load of $26,457 exceeds typical Florida biology programs by about $4,700, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio just over 1:1—meaning graduates owe roughly what they earn in their first year.

The trajectory improves significantly over time, with earnings jumping 46% to reach $38,017 by year four. This growth pattern suggests many graduates initially take lab tech or research assistant positions before advancing to better-paying roles. However, even at that four-year mark, they're still playing catch-up compared to peers at schools like St. Petersburg College or Miami Dade College, where graduates earn those levels right out of the gate with considerably less debt.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means one or two outliers could significantly skew these figures. Given that caveat and Stetson's high tuition relative to Florida's strong public university options, parents should carefully weigh whether the private school experience justifies the financial gap. Biology graduates from Florida's public institutions are typically earning more with less debt from day one.