Location: Raleigh, NC•In-State Tuition: $33,150•Admission Rate: 97%•Avg SAT: 1198
Median Earnings (1yr)
$39,710
93rd percentile
80th percentile in North Carolina
Median Debt
$28,500
14% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.72 ManageableSample: 21 graduates Limited data

Analysis

William Peace University's biology program punches well above its weight, with graduates earning nearly $40,000 in their first year—about $10,000 more than the typical biology graduate in North Carolina and $7,000 above the national median. Among North Carolina's 50 biology programs, this places in the 80th percentile, outperforming larger institutions like NC State and Campbell University. The $28,500 median debt is also exceptionally manageable, lower than 95% of biology programs nationally.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72 means graduates can realistically pay off their loans within a few years even on a biology bachelor's salary, which is rare in this field. For an institution with a 97% acceptance rate, these outcomes are particularly impressive and suggest strong career services or industry connections in the Raleigh area's biotech sector.

The significant caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes can swing these numbers considerably. A single student landing a pharmaceutical job or heading to graduate school could skew the median upward. However, the combination of low debt and strong early earnings makes this a reasonable bet if your child is committed to biology—just recognize that small program size means less predictability than you'd find at larger universities.

Where William Peace University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all biology bachelors's programs nationally

William Peace UniversityOther biology programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How William Peace University graduates compare to all programs nationally

William Peace University earns $40k — 93th percentile among biology bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in North Carolina

Biology bachelors's programs at peer institutions in North Carolina (50 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
William Peace UniversityRaleigh$33,150$39,710—$28,5000.72
Meredith CollegeRaleigh$43,936$43,182$53,798$27,0000.63
East Carolina UniversityGreenville$7,361$38,992$47,217$26,0000.67
North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh$8,895$36,157$57,457$21,5000.59
Barton CollegeWilson$35,600$35,783—$26,9900.75
Campbell UniversityBuies Creek$40,410$35,579$40,607$27,0000.76
National Median—$32,316—$25,0000.77

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with biology graduates

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Research Coordinators

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Water Resource Specialists

Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists

Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. Engage in clinical investigation, research and development, or other related activities.

$100,590/yrJobs growth:Doctoral or professional degree

Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in biological sciences. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Forensic Science Technicians

Collect, identify, classify, and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations. Perform tests on weapons or substances, such as fiber, hair, and tissue to determine significance to investigation. May testify as expert witnesses on evidence or crime laboratory techniques. May serve as specialists in area of expertise, such as ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, or biochemistry.

$67,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

$64,580/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biological Technicians

Assist biological and medical scientists. Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, monitor experiments, collect data and samples, make observations, and calculate and record results. May analyze organic substances, such as blood, food, and drugs.

$52,000/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Agricultural Technicians

Work with agricultural scientists in plant, fiber, and animal research, or assist with animal breeding and nutrition. Set up or maintain laboratory equipment and collect samples from crops or animals. Prepare specimens or record data to assist scientists in biology or related life science experiments. Conduct tests and experiments to improve yield and quality of crops or to increase the resistance of plants and animals to disease or insects.

$48,480/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Precision Agriculture Technicians

Apply geospatial technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS), to agricultural production or management activities, such as pest scouting, site-specific pesticide application, yield mapping, or variable-rate irrigation. May use computers to develop or analyze maps or remote sensing images to compare physical topography with data on soils, fertilizer, pests, or weather.

$48,480/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Food Science Technicians

Work with food scientists or technologists to perform standardized qualitative and quantitative tests to determine physical or chemical properties of food or beverage products. Includes technicians who assist in research and development of production technology, quality control, packaging, processing, and use of foods.

$48,480/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Biological Scientists, All Other

All biological scientists not listed separately.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At William Peace University, approximately 35% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 21 graduates with reported earnings and 23 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.