Biology at Syracuse University

Syracuse University's Biology program shows exactly what parents worry about with life sciences degrees: a rocky start followed by meaningful recovery. Fresh graduates earn $34,841—barely above national and state medians—while carrying $27,000 in debt. That's manageable at 0.77x first-year earnings, but these students are competing for lab tech and research assistant positions against biology grads from schools charging half as much.

The optimistic view? Earnings jump 57% by year four, reaching $54,536. That trajectory suggests graduates either pursue additional credentials (nursing, PA programs, graduate school) or find their footing in better-paying roles. Among New York's 92 biology programs, Syracuse lands solidly in the 60th percentile—respectable but nowhere near the top tier represented by Barnard ($47,329) or Hamilton ($43,639). You're paying private school prices for middle-of-the-pack outcomes in a state with strong public alternatives.

If your child is certain about medical school or another graduate program where Syracuse's name carries weight, the investment makes more sense. But for a student hoping to work directly after college, that $34,841 starting salary means years of tight budgets before the payoff arrives. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) suggests these numbers are reliable enough for decision-making, though not capturing every possible outcome.