Biology at Westmont College

Westmont's biology program produces first-year earnings that fall below both California's state median ($33,486) and the national average ($32,316), landing at the 40th percentile in both comparisons. While $30,635 might feel adequate for an entry-level position, it's concerning that graduates at California State schools like East Bay and San Marcos—with admission rates above 85%—earn 40-50% more right out of the gate. The debt load of $23,250 isn't catastrophic, though it exceeds what biology graduates typically carry at other California institutions ($20,452 median).

The small sample size here matters significantly—we're looking at fewer than 30 graduates, which means a handful of students pursuing graduate school or taking gap years could distort these numbers dramatically. Biology is notoriously pre-professional, with many graduates heading to medical or graduate school rather than the workforce, which may not be captured in this snapshot.

For a family paying private tuition at an 80% admission school, these outcomes warrant serious questions. If your child is committed to medical school or research graduate programs, earnings data becomes less relevant. But if they're planning to work after graduation—perhaps in biotech, pharmaceuticals, or environmental science—the state schools offering this major deliver measurably stronger financial outcomes. Given the small sample and specialized nature of biology careers, schedule a conversation with Westmont's career services about specific placement outcomes before committing.