Biological and Physical Sciences at University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame's Biological and Physical Sciences graduates earn $75,418 in their first year—more than double the national median for this program and comfortably above Indiana's state median of $58,490. That 80th percentile standing among Indiana programs is particularly relevant since many families consider in-state options, and this performance significantly outpaces the next-highest Indiana program by over $30,000. The $19,000 debt load sits below both state and national medians, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.25—meaning graduates typically earn four times their debt in year one alone.

The numbers reflect Notre Dame's elite academic reputation (12% acceptance rate, 1510 average SAT), which clearly translates to labor market outcomes for this interdisciplinary science degree. While the program ranks higher nationally (95th percentile) than within Indiana (80th), this likely reflects the broader quality ceiling of Indiana's competitive science programs rather than any weakness.

For families weighing the investment, this represents strong value: manageable debt paired with exceptional first-year earnings that create immediate financial flexibility. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) means individual outcomes will vary, but the fundamentals—high earnings relative to modest debt—position graduates well for either graduate school or career entry. This is exactly the kind of outcome that justifies attending a highly selective institution.