Pharmacology and Toxicology at University of California-Santa Barbara

UC Santa Barbara's pharmacology and toxicology bachelor's graduates start with modest earnings of $39,421—slightly above the national median but middle-of-the-pack among California's five programs. That said, graduating with just $14,500 in debt makes this program more accessible than many alternatives, with borrowers facing debt equal to just 37% of their first-year earnings. This relatively light debt load stands out as the program's clearest advantage, particularly for students concerned about financial flexibility after graduation.

The caveat here is significant: with fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, these numbers could shift substantially year-to-year. The program also sits at a selective institution (28% admission rate), so gaining entry is itself competitive. Still, for admitted students planning graduate school—common in toxicology and pharmacology fields—the lower debt burden creates more room to pursue advanced degrees without compounding financial pressure. The starting salary roughly matches what UC Davis graduates earn, suggesting UCSB prepares students comparably to the state's other offerings.

If your child is weighing this against more expensive programs, the debt advantage matters. But acknowledge that $39,000 starting salaries mean budgeting carefully in those first years, and the small sample size means you're working with limited information about typical outcomes.