Biology at University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth

UMass Dartmouth's biology program outperforms 95% of biology programs nationwide, with graduates earning $41,204 in their first year—nearly $9,000 above the national median. The $26,614 in typical debt is very manageable, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 that most families would find comfortable. Earnings also grow steadily, reaching nearly $50,000 by year four, which suggests graduates are finding career traction rather than hitting early plateaus.

The state comparison reveals an interesting wrinkle: those impressive national numbers place this program squarely in the middle for Massachusetts (40th percentile). Biology programs across the Bay State perform exceptionally well, with several similar institutions like Salem State and UMass Lowell posting slightly higher starting salaries. Still, UMass Dartmouth holds its own against more selective competitors, and its 92% admission rate means it's accessible to a much broader range of students than schools like Worcester Polytechnic.

For families considering biology as a pre-health or research pathway, this represents a financially sensible choice. The combination of low debt burden, strong national performance, and solid earnings growth creates minimal downside risk while keeping graduate school or other advanced training options open.