Biologyat Boston University
Graduates earn $40,165/yr in their first year — about 25.0% above the national Biology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $623K; scenarios range from $564K to $632K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Boston University
Your Boston University Biology degree offers a significant advantage, rooted in the institution's strong academic reputation and its prime location within one of the world's leading biotech and pharmaceutical hubs. This environment provides unparalleled access to internships during your studies and robust recruiting pipelines post-graduation, connecting you directly with cutting-edge research institutions, hospitals, and industry giants in the Boston area. While a general biology foundation is broad, many graduates leverage these local opportunities to gain initial experience as research assistants or lab technicians. To reach the higher-tier scientist and management roles listed, you'll typically pursue further specialization through graduate studies or targeted professional development. Given the evolving landscape and AI risk in some routine tasks, actively seeking interdisciplinary experiences—like computational biology or data science—will be crucial for your long-term career trajectory.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Boston University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Biology
How Boston University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Boston University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Boston University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Biology offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Biology trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Biology at Boston University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biology at Boston University?
A score of 35/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Biology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Biology careers?
With 40% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $564,484 in decade earnings vs $631,878 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Boston University a hidden gem for Biology?
After financial aid, the average student pays $107,984 over four years — 59% below the $260,672 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.