Biology at University of Minnesota-Morris

The University of Minnesota-Morris biology program punches well above its weight nationally while keeping debt remarkably low. Graduates earn $40,415 in their first year—25% more than the national median for biology majors and landing in the 95th percentile nationwide. The $18,500 median debt is roughly a third less than typical biology programs, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 that makes this degree financially manageable from day one.

Within Minnesota, the picture is more nuanced. While UMM biology graduates still earn above the state median, they trail the top programs like Saint Cloud State and Metropolitan State by a few thousand dollars annually. That 60th percentile state ranking suggests this isn't the highest-earning biology path in Minnesota, though the lower debt partially offsets the earnings gap. The modest 7% earnings growth over four years indicates relatively stable but not exceptional career progression.

For families prioritizing financial safety in a biology degree—a field notorious for requiring graduate school—this combination of strong national performance and minimal debt creates genuine flexibility. Your student graduates with breathing room to pursue research positions, grad school, or career changes without being handcuffed by loan payments, even if they're not immediately out-earning peers at every other Minnesota school.