Biological/Biosystems Engineering at University of Nebraska-Lincoln

University of Nebraska-Lincoln's biosystems engineering graduates start strong at $61,755—outpacing the national median by about $2,000 and landing in the 72nd percentile nationally. The debt load of $21,525 is manageable, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35 that's well within reasonable territory. These numbers look solid on paper, especially compared to other engineering-adjacent biology programs.

The concern here is the earnings trajectory: median pay actually drops to $58,687 by year four. This unusual pattern could reflect graduates pivoting into graduate programs, shifting to public sector work, or simply the volatility that comes with tracking fewer than 30 alumni. With Nebraska offering only one biosystems engineering program, there's no in-state comparison to help contextualize whether this dip is unique to UNL or a broader industry trend in the region.

For families weighing this decision, the low debt and strong starting salary provide a cushion against the uncertain earnings path. If your child is committed to biosystems engineering and staying in-state, UNL is your only option—and it's not a bad one. The declining earnings deserve attention, though: probe career services about where recent grads actually end up working and whether those typical roles align with your child's goals. The small sample size means one or two atypical outcomes could be skewing the data significantly.