Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences at University of Puget Sound

The estimated $17,500 in debt at University of Puget Sound is notably below the national median of $20,422 for cellular biology bachelor's programs, but first-year earnings of $35,822 trail other Washington programs by a meaningful margin. Comparable programs at UW-Seattle produce graduates earning $42,075 initially—nearly $6,300 more—while Western Washington matches the state median at $39,225. Given Puget Sound's 76% admission rate and $1,332 average SAT, the school appears accessible, yet its biology graduates face a tougher immediate earnings picture than peers at more selective in-state alternatives.

The 0.49 debt-to-earnings ratio looks manageable on paper, and that estimated debt figure is encouraging. However, cellular biology is often a pre-med or pre-grad school pathway, and these first-year numbers may reflect students pursuing further education rather than career-track positions. If your child plans to enter the workforce directly after graduation, the earnings gap compared to other Washington programs becomes more significant—those extra thousands annually compound over time.

Here's the practical question: does Puget Sound's smaller, liberal arts environment justify starting $3,000-$6,000 behind annually compared to larger Washington universities? If graduate school is the plan, the lower estimated debt helps. If not, the earnings data from similar programs suggests your child might launch their career from a lower financial base than they would elsewhere in the state.