Biology at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith

A $26,541 starting salary for a biology degree puts UA-Fort Smith graduates well below what biology majors typically earn—18th percentile nationally and 40th percentile within Arkansas. That first-year number falls nearly $6,000 short of the state median and almost $1,500 below minimum wage converted to full-time annual earnings in many markets. Even four years out, graduates earn just $31,612, trailing programs at University of Central Arkansas and UA-Little Rock by over $500 annually. The relatively low $17,081 debt load provides some cushion, but it doesn't fully offset the earnings disadvantage when graduates are starting $5,800 behind the national median.

The 19% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests graduates do gain ground over time, but they're building from a weak foundation. Within Arkansas, this program ranks middle-of-the-pack—half of the state's biology programs produce better outcomes. For context, this is an access-oriented institution serving a significant population of Pell Grant recipients, which may partially explain the lower earnings, but that doesn't change the financial math families face.

If your child is set on biology and planning to stay in the Fort Smith area, the manageable debt makes this workable. But if they're aiming for graduate school or careers requiring strong undergraduate credentials, programs at UCA or UA-Fayetteville deliver meaningfully better earnings trajectories for similar debt levels. The question isn't whether this degree is *possible*—it's whether there are better options readily available.