Biology at Union Adventist University

Union Adventist University's Associate's in Biology shows eye-popping numbers—$74,593 in first-year earnings versus a national median of just $26,503—but the small graduating class (fewer than 30 students) means these figures likely don't tell the whole story. With only four schools offering this associate's degree in Nebraska, and all showing identical median figures, this data probably reflects just a handful of individual outcomes rather than a reliable program pattern. The 100% admission rate and modest Pell Grant enrollment suggest this is a small, accessible institution where one or two graduates landing exceptional jobs could dramatically skew the statistics.

The debt load of $30,875 is nearly triple the national median for associate's biology programs, though the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 looks manageable if those earnings hold up. The problem is predictability: with such a tiny sample, there's no way to know whether your child would replicate these results or fall closer to typical associate's biology outcomes. Most two-year biology programs prepare students for lab technician roles or transfer to four-year institutions, not $75,000 starting salaries.

Unless you have specific knowledge about where these graduates are landing jobs—or plan to use this as a stepping stone to a bachelor's degree—treat these numbers as unreliable. The high debt for an associate's degree is concerning regardless of the earnings data.