Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $25,004/yr fall 16% below the $29,875 national median for Ecology & Evolution. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
The financial case is thin at 2.2x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.
Some AI exposure exists in Ecology & Evolution's typical career paths, with 46% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a -1% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $27,000 against $25,004/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.1 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.
Ranked #60 of 64 Ecology & Evolution programs, Monmouth University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.