Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences at University of Kansas

A biology degree from a flagship university like Kansas should open doors—but the estimated first-year earnings of $35,393 sit right at the national median for this field, suggesting typical rather than exceptional outcomes. With an estimated $21,000 in debt, the picture isn't alarming, but it's worth understanding what drives these modest starting salaries: many cellular biology graduates pursue further education in medicine, research, or graduate programs where these bachelor's-level earnings represent just a waystation.

The 0.59 debt-to-earnings ratio falls within manageable territory, meaning graduates would dedicate roughly seven months of first-year salary to debt if paying it all at once. However, this metric only tells part of the story for pre-med or pre-PhD students who may take on significantly more debt in subsequent years. For students planning to enter the workforce directly after graduation—perhaps in laboratory tech roles or pharmaceutical sales—these earnings may feel limiting given that even top programs nationally only reach $42,634.

The key question is your child's post-graduation plan. If medical school or research graduate programs are the goal, Kansas provides solid preparation and the debt load won't derail those ambitions. But if a bachelor's degree is the endpoint, understand that similar programs nationwide produce similar results—this isn't a field where a Kansas degree commands a premium, and direct-to-workforce biology careers rarely justify significant additional debt beyond these estimates.