Biology at William Carey University

William Carey's biology program starts graduates at barely $20,000 annually—roughly 60% of what typical biology majors earn nationally right after college. While earnings eventually climb to $35,000 by year four (a notable 77% jump), that's still about $8,000 below where most biology graduates start. The relatively modest debt of $18,770 helps soften the blow, but the near-equivalent debt-to-earnings ratio in year one means new graduates face a challenging financial situation during those crucial early career years.

Within Mississippi, this program performs right around the middle of the pack—placing at the 40th percentile among state biology programs. It trails schools like Alcorn State ($27,607) and even nearby University of Southern Mississippi ($24,195) by meaningful margins. That gap matters because biology graduates in Mississippi already earn substantially less than the national average, making every dollar of difference more significant.

The core issue here is that steep earnings curve. Most biology majors use their bachelor's degree as a stepping stone to graduate programs, healthcare careers, or lab positions that pay decent starting wages. When a program produces graduates earning poverty-level wages initially, it raises questions about either the strength of career placement or the types of positions students are accepting. Before committing, your family should investigate what specific career paths recent graduates have taken and whether those align with your child's graduate school plans or immediate career goals.