Biology at California State University-Northridge
Northridge, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
52
Optimistic
51
Base Case
52
Pessimistic
Earnings
$29,506/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk
High (40% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI
27.8x earnings multiple (10.4x out-of-state)
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 | $810K | $788K | $693K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 28.5x | 27.8x | 24.4x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 10.7x | 10.4x | 9.1x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 49% | 45% | 35% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 52 | 51 | 52 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$28,380
Out-of-state: $75,900 (10.4x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
6.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$79,403
169% growth from Year 1
About California State University-Northridge
California State University-Northridge accepts 93% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 32,357 in Northridge, CA. With 56% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.
See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Northridge →Top Career Paths
Natural sciences managers
$161,180/yr
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
$100,590/yr
Biological scientists, all other
$93,330/yr
Compare & Explore
Biology at Other Schools
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Explore the Trade Alternative
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
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biology at California State University-Northridge?
A score of 51/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Biology field.
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 $693,289 in decade earnings vs $809,574 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →