Biology at University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Biology graduates from UCCS start modestly at $32,374—landing right at the national median but trailing the Colorado average by about $2,200. That ranking (40th percentile statewide) becomes easier to understand when you see that Metro State Denver and CSU Pueblo grads earn $8,000-9,000 more straight out of school. However, the four-year trajectory tells a different story: earnings jump 45% to nearly $47,000, suggesting that UCCS biology grads may take longer to land their footing but find solid career momentum once they do.

The debt picture looks reasonable at $23,425—slightly below both state and national medians for biology programs. That 0.72 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than they'll earn in their first year, which is manageable territory even during that slower initial earning period. With a 97% admission rate and modest test scores, UCCS offers accessible entry to students who might not gain acceptance at more selective Colorado schools, and the strong earnings growth suggests the program prepares them well for eventual career advancement.

For parents, the question is whether your child can weather those early years of below-average Colorado earnings. If they can work their way up—whether through graduate school, gaining experience, or pivoting into higher-paying adjacent fields—the investment pencils out. But if they need strong immediate earnings to manage debt, those other Colorado programs deliver better starting salaries.