Biology at SUNY Old Westbury

SUNY Old Westbury's biology program delivers a surprisingly efficient value proposition that should reassure budget-conscious families. With median debt of just $19,840—well below both state and national averages of $25,000—graduates leave with manageable loan burdens. While first-year earnings of $33,228 land near the middle of the pack (60th percentile among New York biology programs), the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60 is notably healthy for a bachelor's degree.

The practical math works in this program's favor: graduates owe roughly seven months of their first-year salary, a reasonable position for launching a science career that often requires graduate training. Many biology majors continue to medical school, veterinary programs, or graduate research, making this low debt load particularly strategic. Nearly half the student body receives Pell grants, yet the program manages to keep debt contained while maintaining competitive outcomes.

For families weighing in-state SUNY options, this represents solid middle ground. You're not getting the $47,000 starting salaries of Barnard or Columbia graduates, but you're also not shouldering their typical debt loads or private school price tags. If your child is serious about biology and graduate school is on the horizon, leaving undergraduate years with under $20,000 in debt positions them well for additional training without crushing financial pressure.