Biology at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

UAPB's Biology program earns middle-of-the-pack status among Arkansas schools but trails national performance significantly. At $26,612 in starting salary, graduates earn about $6,000 less than the national median for biology majors and roughly $1,400 below Arkansas's state median. That places it firmly in the bottom fifth nationally, though it performs closer to average within the state—a reflection of Arkansas's generally modest earning potential.

The encouraging pattern here is growth: earnings jump 38% by year four to $36,722, reaching near-national median levels. The debt picture helps too—at $21,500, it's about $3,500 below the national average and matches the state median, creating a manageable 0.81 debt-to-earnings ratio in year one. For a school serving predominantly Pell Grant recipients (67% of students), these debt levels represent responsible borrowing.

The fundamental question is whether starting near $27,000 annually is acceptable, given that biology often serves as pre-med or pre-professional preparation. Students planning graduate school may find this acceptable; those seeking immediate career entry should understand they'll likely earn 15-20% less than peers from stronger Arkansas programs like University of Central Arkansas or UA Little Rock. The strong four-year earnings growth suggests persistence pays off, but that first year requires financial planning.