Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology at University of Maryland-College Park

UMD-College Park's ecology and evolutionary biology program posts earnings that place it in the 95th percentile nationally—impressive for a field where the typical graduate earns just $29,460 their first year. Starting at $36,375 and climbing to over $50,000 by year four represents 38% growth, suggesting graduates are finding professional-level positions rather than getting stuck in low-wage fieldwork or retail jobs. The manageable $19,635 in debt (less than the national median for this major) keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio at a reasonable 0.54.

Here's the catch: Maryland only has six schools offering this specific program, and UMD sits right at the state median for earnings. That 60th percentile state ranking means roughly half of Maryland's ecology programs produce similar or better outcomes. However, this likely reflects the small sample creating statistical noise rather than a genuine performance gap—when you're comparing just a handful of programs, small differences in graduate career choices create big swings in percentile rankings.

For families worried about biology degrees leading to dead-end lab tech positions, this program offers a counterpoint. The strong upward earnings trajectory and above-average starting salary suggest graduates are leveraging UMD's research reputation and DC-area connections to land roles in environmental consulting, government agencies, or graduate programs that lead to professional careers. At this debt level, those outcomes make this a solid choice for students genuinely committed to the field.