Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology at University of Missouri-St Louis

UMSL's biochemistry program posts surprisingly strong numbers that outpace most competitors nationally, though the small graduate cohort means these figures could shift significantly year to year. First-year earnings of $49,509 land in the 95th percentile nationally—$11,000 above what typical biochemistry graduates earn—while debt of $27,316 sits well below the typical load for four-year degrees. That's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55, meaning graduates can realistically pay off loans within a few years if they stay focused.

The Missouri context reveals both the opportunity and the limitation here. While this program beats the state median by $4,500, it only ranks at the 60th percentile among Missouri biochemistry programs, suggesting several in-state alternatives might offer similar or better outcomes. Notably, flagship Mizzler's program actually shows lower first-year earnings at $40,492, making UMSL's numbers look even more impressive. The modest 6% earnings growth to year four isn't alarming for science fields where entry salaries are already decent.

The major caveat: fewer than 30 students in this data cohort. That small sample means one or two high earners (perhaps headed to medical school or PhD programs) could skew the entire picture. If your child thrives in this program, these numbers suggest excellent prospects. Just recognize they might not represent what every graduate experiences.