Biology at Cleveland State University

Cleveland, OH · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
34 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
34
Optimistic
34
Base Case
34
Pessimistic
Earnings $29,440/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 10.4x earnings multiple (7.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #546 of 822 Biology, General programs

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 $529K $526K $490K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.5x 10.4x 9.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.4x 7.3x 6.8x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 34 34 34

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$50,452
Out-of-state: $71,892 (7.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$64,260
-27% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,750
8.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,572
68% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $29,440/yr, roughly in line with the $32,219 national median for Biology. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.4x 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 7% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $20,750 represents roughly 8 months of the $29,440 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #546 of 822 Biology programs, Cleveland State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $49,572 show a 68% jump from the $29,440 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Cleveland State University

Cleveland State University accepts 95% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 9,077 in Cleveland, OH.

See all programs and financial aid at Cleveland State University →

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

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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 Cleveland State University?
A score of 34/100 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 $489,805 in decade earnings vs $528,857 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →