Biology at University of New Mexico-Main Campus

UNM's biology program lands middle-of-the-pack nationally but leads the state—graduates earn nearly $14,000 more four years out than their peers at New Mexico State, placing UNM in the 60th percentile statewide. The $30,065 starting salary sits below the national median, but the 40% earnings jump to $42,040 by year four shows promising career development that outpaces typical biology programs.

The financial package here is genuinely manageable. At $19,000 in median debt—$6,000 below the national average for biology majors—students face monthly payments around $190 on a standard plan. That's just 8% of first-year earnings and becomes even more comfortable as salaries rise. While biology isn't typically a high-earning major right out of college, this debt level means graduates aren't trapped if they pursue grad school, teaching positions, or lab work before potentially pivoting to higher-paying healthcare careers.

The real question is whether your student plans to stay in New Mexico. This program offers the best biology outcomes in the state with debt that won't derail their next steps, whether that's medical school, research, or entering the workforce. For a flagship state university with a 95% admission rate, these results represent solid value—particularly for students who qualify for in-state tuition.