Biology at Whitworth University

Whitworth's biology program lands in the bottom quarter of Washington state options, with first-year earnings of $29,599 trailing the state median by over $5,000. Even after four years, graduates earn $35,873—still below what typical Washington biology grads make right out of college. The gap with University of Washington campuses exceeds $9,000 annually, a difference that compounds significantly over a career.

The debt load of $22,500 is actually manageable and slightly below both state and national medians. The 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't alarming on its own, and the 21% earnings growth over four years suggests graduates do find better opportunities with experience. But starting nearly $6,000 below your state peers creates a hole that's hard to climb out of, especially when nearby universities deliver substantially stronger outcomes.

For a family paying private tuition at Whitworth, this creates a math problem. Biology graduates here face both lower starting salaries and the opportunity cost of forgoing stronger in-state options. Unless your child has compelling reasons to attend Whitworth specifically—campus fit, specific research opportunities, or merit aid that closes the cost gap—Washington's public universities offer markedly better returns for biology degrees. The manageable debt doesn't offset the earnings disadvantage.