Biology at University of the Ozarks

University of the Ozarks biology graduates earn $27,992 their first year out—about $4,300 below the national median but right at Arkansas's state median. That 60th percentile ranking among Arkansas biology programs might seem reassuring, except it reveals how challenged Arkansas biology programs are overall. The state's top earner (University of Central Arkansas at $32,390) barely exceeds the national median, meaning graduating from Arkansas with a biology degree puts you at a structural disadvantage compared to most other states.

The debt picture adds another complication. At $19,750, graduates here borrow less than both national and state medians, which keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio manageable at 0.71. However, that figure still represents nearly nine months of gross salary—and that's assuming full-time employment at the median wage. For a degree that often requires graduate school to access better-paying careers, starting this far below national earning benchmarks could compound into a significant disadvantage.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes it hard to know if these numbers reflect a consistent pattern or an unusual cohort. For families considering this program, the key question is whether biology is a stepping stone to graduate school or a terminal degree. If it's the former, the modest debt load matters more than first-year earnings. If it's the latter, expect to start behind peers from stronger programs and work harder to catch up.