Pharmacology and Toxicology at University at Buffalo

UB's Pharmacology and Toxicology bachelor's graduates earn about $5,000 less than the typical program graduate in New York, landing near the bottom quarter nationally despite the program carrying slightly higher debt than average. That $34,468 starting salary trails even the state median by over $4,700—and sits $9,400 below what CUNY York College graduates earn in the same field. The debt load itself is reasonable at $23,503, but when paired with below-market earnings, it creates a payback timeline that's longer than it should be for this credential.

The silver lining here is genuine: this is one of only 23 programs nationwide, and the debt burden ranks in the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of comparable programs saddle students with more debt. For a family committed to pharmacology research or toxicology careers specifically, UB provides access to a rare specialization without crushing loan payments. But the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift dramatically year to year, and the earnings gap suggests either graduates are entering lower-paying sectors or the Buffalo job market doesn't reward this degree as well as other New York regions.

If your student plans to pursue graduate school in pharmacology or medicine—where this bachelor's serves as a stepping stone—the modest debt makes UB workable. But for those expecting strong earnings right after graduation, the data suggests looking elsewhere in New York or reconsidering whether a more general biology or chemistry degree might offer better immediate returns.