Biology at The University of Montana

Before celebrating Montana's impressive biology numbers, note the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates means these figures could shift dramatically year to year. That said, the first-year earnings of $43,914 significantly outpace both Montana's median ($32,296) and the national benchmark ($32,316), ranking in the 95th percentile nationally and 80th percentile statewide. The $26,718 debt burden sits near national averages and is actually reasonable given those strong initial earnings.

The troubling part is what happens next: earnings drop 26% by year four to just $32,483. This suggests many graduates either pursue additional education (common for biology majors heading to medical or graduate school) or accept lower-paying positions after exploring career options. Biology is notoriously a stepping-stone degree, and these numbers reflect that reality. The small sample makes it impossible to know whether this pattern would hold with more data.

For families committed to biology as an undergraduate major, Montana offers competitive positioning among state schools and manageable debt. Just understand that biology alone—especially from a school with a 96% admission rate—rarely leads to high earnings without further credentials. If your student plans to stop at a bachelor's degree, have honest conversations about career prospects. If grad school is the goal, this is an affordable launching pad.