Biotechnology at University of Idaho

With just one biotechnology bachelor's program in Idaho, this University of Idaho degree operates without in-state competition—but peer programs nationally suggest starting earnings around $47,000, paired with an estimated $20,400 in debt. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 falls within reasonable bounds: you're looking at a debt load roughly equivalent to ten months of first-year salary, which many families could manage with disciplined repayment. The school's 79% admission rate and moderate selectivity suggest accessible entry into a science field that typically demands strong academic performance.

The challenge with biotechnology bachelor's degrees is that the field often rewards graduate education more generously than a four-year degree alone. National figures show these programs clustering tightly around $47,000 in starting pay, with even top-performing programs (75th percentile) only reaching about $52,000. If your student plans to stop at a bachelor's, they may find better-paying science options exist—engineering fields, for instance, typically start higher. But if this serves as a stepping stone toward graduate work in biotech or related health sciences, the manageable debt load makes that pathway more feasible than programs carrying $30,000+ in loans.

Given the estimated nature of these figures and the lack of reported outcomes from Idaho biotechnology graduates specifically, consider this program most promising if your student has clear graduate school intentions or specific career connections in the Northwest biotech corridor.