Biology at Fort Lewis College
Durango, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
31
Optimistic
30
Base Case
31
Pessimistic
Earnings
$26,350/yr (-18% vs median)
AI Risk
High (40% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI
12.7x earnings multiple (5.9x 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 | $492K | $493K | $463K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 12.7x | 12.7x | 12.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.9x | 5.9x | 5.6x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 49% | 45% | 35% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 31 | 30 | 31 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$38,680
Out-of-state: $83,192 (5.9x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,653
8.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$43,405
65% growth from Year 1
About Fort Lewis College
Fort Lewis College accepts 93% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 3,070 students in Durango, CO.
See all programs and financial aid at Fort Lewis College →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
Other Majors at Fort Lewis College
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 Fort Lewis College?
A score of 30/100 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 $463,446 in decade earnings vs $492,492 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Biology from Fort Lewis College?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →