Biology at Westminster University

Westminster's biology program reports first-year earnings of $40,919—impressive at the 95th percentile nationally, though with an important caveat. Among Utah's seven biology programs, these graduates land right in the middle (60th percentile), just above the state median of $38,427 and on par with University of Utah and Utah Valley. The dramatic national ranking mostly reflects how poorly biology pays nationwide ($32,316 median), not exceptional local performance.

The $21,000 debt load works in students' favor here, coming in about $4,500 below the state median and creating a manageable 0.51 debt-to-earnings ratio. That means graduates could reasonably pay off their loans within a year or two of aggressive repayment, assuming they're living modestly. For a biology degree—which often serves as a stepping stone to graduate programs in medicine, research, or other fields—keeping debt this low matters significantly.

The real limitation is the small sample size (under 30 graduates). These numbers could swing considerably year to year, making them less reliable than data from larger programs. If your student is dead-set on biology and plans to stay in Utah, this program offers solid regional outcomes without crushing debt. But if they're comparing to other Utah schools, they're essentially looking at a coin flip between similarly-performing programs—pick based on fit and support services rather than earnings expectations.