Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology at University of Rhode Island

URI's ecology and evolution program starts graduates at just $26,176—below both the state median ($27,625) and national median ($29,460) for this field. Ranking in the 30th percentile nationally, these are challenging early earnings for any bachelor's degree holder. However, the 44% income jump to $37,783 by year four suggests graduates who stick with the field find better opportunities than many biology programs provide.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $20,635, graduates owe about $3,000 less than typical ecology majors nationally and roughly $3,200 less than Rhode Island's state median. That 0.79 debt-to-earnings ratio means borrowers face less than a year's income in loans, creating manageable monthly payments even during those lean early years. Among the four Rhode Island schools offering this program, URI sits in the middle of the pack for earnings—not leading, but not trailing either.

The fundamental question is whether your child can weather those first few years. If they're passionate about ecology and willing to pursue graduate work or field positions that eventually pay better, the relatively low debt keeps that path viable. But if they need strong immediate earnings to support themselves independently, this program's slow start demands careful financial planning or a backup strategy.