Biology at University of Arkansas at Little Rock

UALR's biology program outperforms most Arkansas institutions despite serving a predominantly working-class student body—41% of students receive Pell grants, yet graduates rank in the 60th percentile statewide for earnings. More impressively, first-year earnings of $32,096 jump to $42,247 by year four, a 32% increase that suggests graduates successfully transition into better-paying positions or graduate programs. The debt load of $24,329 is below both state and national medians, creating a manageable 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio that most graduates can reasonably handle.

Context matters here: while UALR trails University of Central Arkansas by just $300 in starting salary, it significantly outpaces flagship University of Arkansas graduates ($28,061) and beats the state median by $4,000. For an institution with a 58% admission rate and modest SAT scores (1049), these outcomes punch above weight class. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) is large enough to suggest reliable data without the statistical noise of very small cohorts.

The trajectory is what matters most. Biology graduates starting in the low $30s often feel discouraged, but this program's 32% earnings growth indicates students aren't stuck in lab technician roles forever. For Arkansas families seeking an affordable path into healthcare, research, or graduate school, UALR delivers competitive preparation without the debt burden that can derail those next steps.