Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $25,730/yr fall 20% below the $32,219 national median for Biology. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 20.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Biology programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Biology's typical career paths, with 40% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 11% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $21,500 represents roughly 10 months of the $25,730 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #244 of 822 Biology programs, Arkansas State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $59,828 show a 133% jump from the $25,730 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.