Biology at Wilkes University

Wilkes University's biology program shows impressive earnings growth, but the small sample size means these numbers might not represent what every graduate experiences. That said, the trajectory is striking: graduates start at $38,513 but reach $60,789 by year four—a 58% jump that suggests many move into higher-paying healthcare or research roles after gaining experience or additional credentials.

The debt picture is reasonable at $26,931, creating a manageable 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio in the first year that improves dramatically as salaries climb. Wilkes outperforms the national median for biology programs by nearly $6,200, though it lands in the middle of Pennsylvania's competitive biology landscape—below elite programs like Lehigh but ahead of many state schools. For context, this ranks at the 60th percentile among Pennsylvania biology programs, solidly above the state median of $35,122.

The main uncertainty here is program consistency. With fewer than 30 recent graduates in the dataset, these numbers could shift significantly year to year depending on whether graduates pursue medical school, research positions, or immediate employment. If your child is considering pre-med or plans to continue education, this program appears to position students well. Just recognize you're looking at a snapshot that may not capture the full range of outcomes.