Biology at University of Minnesota-Duluth

UMN-Duluth's biology program earns graduates $31,891 initially—about $4,000 less than the Minnesota median and below most peer programs in the state. This lands the program in the 40th percentile among Minnesota biology degrees, trailing competitors like Saint Cloud State ($44,166) and Metropolitan State ($42,128) by substantial margins right out of college. For families comparing in-state options, those gaps matter.

The saving grace is momentum: earnings jump 55% to $49,531 by year four, suggesting graduates move into better-paying roles once they gain experience or complete additional credentials like graduate degrees or certifications. The debt load of $24,684 is reasonable, creating a manageable 0.77 debt-to-earnings ratio that's better than many biology programs nationally. Still, that stronger four-year number doesn't fully compensate for the slow start, especially when peers offer both higher initial earnings and similar debt levels.

For students planning to pursue graduate or professional school—common for biology majors—this program works fine as an affordable stepping stone. But families expecting their child to enter the workforce directly after graduation should recognize they'll likely start behind peers from other Minnesota public universities, even if the gap narrows over time.