Biology at University of North Florida

University of North Florida's biology program starts slowly but demonstrates something important: significant earnings momentum. While first-year earnings of $26,964 trail both the national figure and Florida's median by a few thousand dollars, graduates see their income jump 65% by year four—reaching $44,575. That's well above the typical trajectory for biology majors and suggests graduates are successfully moving into professional roles or continuing to graduate programs that pay off.

The real advantage here is financial: at $16,250 in median debt, UNF biology students borrow about $5,500 less than Florida's median and nearly $9,000 less than the national benchmark. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60 is manageable, meaning graduates can likely pay down their loans within a reasonable timeframe. While the program ranks at just the 40th percentile among Florida biology programs for first-year earnings—trailing community colleges like St. Petersburg and Miami Dade—the combination of lower debt and strong earnings growth changes the calculus.

For families concerned about biology's notoriously modest starting salaries, UNF offers a cost-conscious path that doesn't seem to limit long-term prospects. Just understand your student will likely need patience during that first year or two out of college, and success may depend on leveraging internships or grad school connections to reach those higher earnings.