Biology at Xavier University of Louisiana

Xavier's biology program faces a serious first-year hurdle that should concern any parent writing tuition checks. At $17,761, graduates earn less than half the national median initially and rank in just the 10th percentile among Louisiana biology programs—trailing competitors like UNO ($33,784) and Southeastern Louisiana ($30,865) by substantial margins. The debt load of $25,887 means students owe more than they'll earn in their entire first year out.

The silver lining is impressive earnings growth: incomes nearly double to $34,574 by year four, bringing graduates closer to competitive standing. This pattern suggests many students are starting in medical school, gap-year positions, or research roles before moving into professional careers. For a school where 52% of students receive Pell grants and the median SAT is 1077, Xavier does succeed in opening doors to advanced opportunities—it's a historically Black university with a strong track record placing students in health professions.

But here's the practical reality: your child needs financial runway to get through those lean early years. If they're headed to medical school or a similar path that explains the delayed earnings, this makes sense. If they need immediate income after graduation to manage debt, this program significantly underperforms both state and national alternatives. The value proposition depends entirely on what comes after the bachelor's degree.