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Biology at Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
40 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
40
Optimistic
40
Base Case
38
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,592/yr (20% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 2.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #348 of 822 Biology, General programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $743K $726K $645K
Earnings Multiple 2.7x 2.7x 2.4x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 40 40 38

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$270,720
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$159,464
41% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,000
5.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$80,290
108% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Boston College's Biology graduates start at $38,592/yr — above the $32,219 national average, though not by a wide margin.

An earnings multiple of 2.7x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 40% task exposure — and the 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $19,000 in median debt clears quickly against $38,592 in annual earnings.

Ranked #348 out of 822 programs, Boston College's Biology offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $38,592 to $80,290 over five years (108% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Boston College

Admission to Boston College is competitive, with 16% of applicants accepted, with a mid-sized student body of 9,865 in Chestnut Hill, MA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $159,464 — 41% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Boston 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

Compare this program → View all 822 schools offering Biology →

Biology at Other Schools

University of San Diego ($54,223) Trinity College ($52,179) Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($51,711) Edgewood College ($51,134) Shepherd University ($49,165) Roger Williams University ($47,799) Barnard College ($47,329) Curry College ($46,736)

Other Majors at Boston College

Computer Science ($86,749) Finance and Financial Management Services ($82,495) Information Science/Studies ($80,731) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($80,046) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($78,934) Accounting and Related Services ($75,512) Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations ($74,446) Mathematics ($74,144)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Biology trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Boston College's Biology program score?
This program scores 40/100 — on the lower end for Biology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Biology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Biology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 40% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →