Zoology/Animal Biology at Weber State University

Weber State's Zoology program graduates start at exactly the national median of $28,461, but here's what stands out: they graduate with $20,039 in debt compared to the $24,393 national median, putting this program in the 87th percentile for low debt. That's meaningful when you're looking at a field where starting salaries hover around $28,000. Among Utah's three zoology programs, Weber State ranks in the 60th percentile for earnings—middle of the pack locally but delivering better debt outcomes than most schools nationally.

The challenge is that even with 24% earnings growth over four years, graduates reach just $35,147 by year four. This is a field where passion often outweighs financial returns, and the relatively low debt load at least keeps that passion affordable. The 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't alarming, but it means graduates will feel their loan payments on that sub-$30,000 starting salary.

One major caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual career paths might vary significantly from these medians. If your child is committed to animal biology, Weber State offers a financially gentler entry point than most programs. But if they're wavering between zoology and other biology tracks with stronger earnings potential, that's a conversation worth having before enrollment.