Biology, General at Aquinas College

Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
27 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
28
Optimistic
27
Base Case
27
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,787/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 3.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #715 of 822 Biology, General programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Biology, General graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $538K $535K $497K
Earnings Multiple 3.5x 3.5x 3.2x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 28 27 27

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$154,080
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$75,608
51% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,451
9.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,870
63% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Aquinas College's Biology, General program produces graduates earning $31,787/yr — within striking distance of the $32,219 national average for this field.

An earnings multiple of 3.5x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Biology, General's typical career paths, with 40% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,451 represents roughly 9 months of the $31,787 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #715 of 822 Biology, General programs, Aquinas College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $51,870 show a 63% jump from the $31,787 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Aquinas College

A 71% acceptance rate means Aquinas College is accessible to most applicants, with a smaller student body of 1,201 in Grand Rapids, MI. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $75,608 — 51% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Aquinas College →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists $100,590/yr
Biological scientists, all other $93,330/yr
View all 10 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biology, General at Aquinas College?
A score of 27/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Biology, General. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Biology, General careers?
With 40% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $496,608 in decade earnings vs $538,242 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Aquinas College a hidden gem for Biology, General?
After financial aid, the average student pays $75,608 over four years — 51% below the $154,080 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →