Biological/Biosystems Engineering at University of Maryland-College Park

Biological engineering sits at a lucrative intersection of technical skills and life sciences, and graduates from comparable programs nationally earn about $60,000 in their first year—a solid starting point for a STEM bachelor's degree. Based on typical debt levels for University of Maryland undergraduates completing similar technical programs, you're looking at roughly $23,000 in loans, which translates to manageable monthly payments relative to that initial salary.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 suggests a reasonable financial picture: less than six months of gross income to repay what was borrowed. This falls comfortably within conventional "good investment" territory for college degrees, especially in engineering fields where salaries typically grow with experience. Maryland's flagship university offers strong industry connections in the mid-Atlantic biotech corridor, and the competitive admission profile (median SAT of 1463) indicates you're joining capable peers in a rigorous program.

The caveat: with only 15 programs nationally offering this specific major, we're working with limited comparison data. The figures here represent what similar biosystems engineering graduates typically experience, not tracked outcomes from Maryland's specific cohort. If your child thrives in applied biology and engineering coursework and can handle the academic rigor, the estimated numbers point toward a worthwhile investment—but confirm current placement rates and industry partnerships directly with the department before committing.