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Biochemistry at California State University-San Marcos

San Marcos, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
54 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
55
Optimistic
54
Base Case
51
Pessimistic
Earnings $57,682/yr (52% vs median)
AI Risk High (45% exposed)
Job Market Large (45,200 openings/yr)
ROI 18.8x earnings multiple (7.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #15 of 136 Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $590K $582K $533K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 19.1x 18.8x 17.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.5x 7.4x 6.8x
Probability of Field Employment 58% 53% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 55 54 51

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,956
Out-of-state: $78,476 (7.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$42,200
-36% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,983
4.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

California State University-San Marcos Biochemistry graduates command $57,682/yr out of the gate, well above the $37,918 national median. That 52% premium suggests the program's reputation carries real labor-market weight.

The 18.8x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 45% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $20,983 in median debt clears quickly against $57,682 in annual earnings.

Ranked #15 out of 136 programs, California State University-San Marcos's Biochemistry program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

About California State University-San Marcos

A 96% acceptance rate means California State University-San Marcos is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 14,174 in San Marcos, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 44% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-San Marcos →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Biochemists and biophysicists $103,650/yr
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists $100,590/yr
View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 136 schools offering Biochemistry →

Biochemistry at Other Schools

Northeastern University ($63,781) California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($57,538) MCPHS University ($51,942) University of Colorado Boulder ($50,474) California State University-Los Angeles ($50,428) University of Massachusetts-Boston ($50,352) University of Missouri-St Louis ($49,509) University of California-Santa Barbara ($49,100)

Other Majors at California State University-San Marcos

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($103,799) Accounting and Related Services ($63,366) Computer Systems Analysis ($61,054) Computer Science ($60,645) Physics ($56,018) International Business ($55,455) Management Information Systems and Services ($55,102) Finance and Financial Management Services ($54,408)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-San Marcos's Biochemistry program score?
This program scores 54/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Biochemistry graduates.
How vulnerable is Biochemistry to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Biochemistry careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 45% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does California State University-San Marcos rank so high for Biochemistry?
The #15 ranking out of 136 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →