Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology at University of Colorado Boulder

CU Boulder's biochemistry program produces graduates earning $50,474 right after graduation—significantly outpacing both the national median ($38,036) and Colorado's state median ($42,142). That places this program in the 95th percentile nationally, though only the 60th percentile within Colorado, suggesting the state has several strong competitors in this field. The $20,185 median debt is actually $3,000 less than the typical Colorado biochemistry graduate carries, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40 that most families would find manageable.

The caveat here is sample size: with fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, these numbers could shift considerably with more data. That said, the pattern looks encouraging—graduates are earning solid middle-class incomes immediately and maintaining them four years out. The modest 3% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests these students likely move into stable lab or research positions rather than rapidly escalating career tracks, which is typical for this field where many graduates continue to advanced degrees.

For a family evaluating this program, the fundamentals look sound: strong starting salaries, reasonable debt loads, and access to CU Boulder's research infrastructure at a school with an 83% admission rate. Just recognize that the small sample means your child's outcome could vary more than at programs with hundreds of graduates in the data.