Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $23,366 place Southern Illinois University-Carbondale below the $28,448 national median for Zoology/Animal Biology — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.8x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
Some AI exposure exists in Zoology/Animal Biology's typical career paths, with 46% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 5% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $19,750 represents roughly 10 months of the $23,366 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #45 of 55 Zoology/Animal Biology programs, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $38,317 show a 64% jump from the $23,366 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.