Biology at Wichita State University

Wichita State's biology program sits in an unusual position: it beats the national median by 6% and ranks in the 63rd percentile nationally, yet lags behind Kansas's state median. That's because Kansas biology programs generally perform well—the state median of $34,494 exceeds the national benchmark by 7%. Within Kansas, this program ranks in the 40th percentile, trailing Fort Hays State, KU, and several others by $3,000-$5,000 annually.

The debt picture is reasonable but not exceptional. At $24,314, graduates carry about $2,000 more than the typical Kansas biology student, though they're essentially on par with national norms. The 0.71 debt-to-earnings ratio means first-year salaries cover your debt load in under nine months, which is manageable. More encouraging: earnings grow 22% by year four to $41,782, suggesting graduates move beyond entry-level lab tech positions into better-paying roles.

For Kansas families, this represents solid but not standout value. If your child has admission offers from Fort Hays or KU, those schools deliver notably higher starting salaries for comparable or lower debt. However, WSU's 95% admission rate makes it accessible to students who might not get into more selective programs, and the debt burden won't be crushing even if your graduate needs time to find their footing in the life sciences job market.