Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $24,662/yr fall 23% 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 14.0x 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 6% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $24,250 represents roughly 12 months of the $24,662 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #666 of 822 Biology programs, Austin Peay State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $41,531 show a 68% jump from the $24,662 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.