Biology at University of California-Irvine

UC Irvine's Biology program presents a concerning value proposition despite the university's strong reputation. While graduates see impressive 90% earnings growth by year four, the starting salary of $25,388 ranks in just the 14th percentile nationally and 25th percentile among California biology programs—well below both the national median ($32,316) and California median ($33,486). This means your child would likely earn significantly less initially than biology graduates from most other programs.

The debt picture, however, is notably favorable. At $15,767, graduates carry much less debt than the national median ($25,000) and California median ($20,452), ranking in the 5th percentile for low debt nationally. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62 is manageable, meaning students can reasonably expect to service their loans even with lower starting wages.

The "fast riser" pattern here is key: while year-one earnings lag significantly, year-four earnings of $48,182 become competitive and exceed many programs that start higher. This suggests UC Irvine biology graduates may be pursuing graduate school, medical school, or specialized training that initially depresses earnings but pays off later. For families comfortable with lower initial earnings in exchange for long-term growth potential and minimal debt burden, this program offers reasonable value. However, if your child needs immediate earning power after graduation, other California options perform substantially better from day one.