Biology at Wake Forest University

Wake Forest's biology program starts below-average but shows remarkable earnings growth—graduates more than double their income from $30,666 to $60,300 in just four years. That trajectory matters, especially considering the manageable debt load of $22,612. While the first-year earnings land at exactly the state median and slightly below the national average, this is clearly a program where the real payoff comes after students complete their next steps, whether that's medical school, graduate programs, or establishing themselves in competitive biotech and research positions.

The value proposition here depends heavily on what your child plans to do after graduation. For students using this degree as a pre-med or pre-PhD foundation, the strong earnings growth suggests successful placement into professional programs or research careers. However, if your child expects to work immediately after graduation with just a bachelor's, those first-year earnings trail significantly behind schools like Meredith College ($43,182) and even public options like ECU ($38,992). The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74 is reasonable but not exceptional—you could find better immediate returns at other North Carolina schools.

The bottom line: This makes sense if your child is academically strong (note the 1469 average SAT) and planning advanced studies in healthcare or research. If they're unsure about graduate school or need to start earning immediately, other North Carolina biology programs offer stronger starting salaries without requiring the selectivity threshold of Wake Forest's 22% admission rate.