Zoology/Animal Biology at Washington State University

Washington State University's zoology program stands out for one crucial reason: graduates carry significantly less debt than the national norm. At $17,875, that's $6,500 below what typical zoology students owe elsewhere—placing this program in the 95th percentile nationally for keeping debt low. For a field where early earnings hover around $28,000, that difference matters enormously.

The earnings trajectory tells an encouraging story. While first-year graduates earn right at the national median, they see strong 37% growth by year four, reaching nearly $39,000. That's solid momentum for a life sciences field often associated with entry-level research positions and field work. Among Washington's two zoology programs, WSU performs slightly better than average, though the limited state options mean most comparison comes from the national landscape.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63 works in graduates' favor—roughly two-thirds of that first year's salary in debt is manageable territory, especially given the upward earnings trend. For families concerned about their student taking on debt to study animal biology, WSU's combination of reasonable borrowing and decent earning potential makes this a relatively safe bet within a field that's never been known for high starting salaries.