Biology at University of Central Florida

UCF's biology program shows a troubling pattern that should concern parents: graduates start with poverty-level wages of $23,710—placing the program in just the 5th percentile nationally. While earnings do climb substantially to $37,529 by year four (a 58% increase), this "fast riser" trajectory means your child will likely struggle financially in those crucial early career years. The debt load of $21,900 is manageable compared to national averages, but when paired with such low starting salaries, it creates a debt-to-earnings ratio that's uncomfortably high at 0.92.

The state comparison offers little comfort. UCF's biology graduates earn significantly less than peers at community colleges like St. Petersburg College ($37,741) and Miami Dade College ($34,568), and fall well below the Florida median of $27,034. This performance ranks UCF at just the 40th percentile among Florida's 38 biology programs—mediocre for a major state research university.

For parents considering this investment, the key question is whether your child can weather those lean early years while debt payments kick in. The strong earnings growth suggests the program does build valuable skills over time, but the immediate post-graduation financial reality could force difficult decisions about graduate school, living situations, or career pivots. Consider whether your child has family financial support or if they're exploring more specialized biology tracks that might command higher starting salaries.