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Biology at Franklin and Marshall College

Lancaster, PA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
33 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
34
Optimistic
33
Base Case
31
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,950/yr (18% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 1.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #580 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 $465K $467K $443K
Earnings Multiple 1.7x 1.7x 1.6x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 34 33 31

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$273,520
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$156,244
43% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,000
6.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $37,950 at Franklin and Marshall College come in 18% above the national median of $32,219 for Biology programs.

The financial case is thin at 1.7x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $19,000 represents roughly 6 months of the $37,950 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #580 of 822 Biology programs, Franklin and Marshall College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Franklin and Marshall College

Franklin and Marshall College accepts 32% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, a compact campus enrolling 1,904 students in Lancaster, PA. The average net cost of $156,244 over four years represents a 43% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Franklin and Marshall College →

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

Compare this program → View all 822 schools offering Biology →

Biology at Other Schools

University of San Diego ($54,223) Trinity College ($52,179) Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($51,711) Edgewood College ($51,134) Shepherd University ($49,165) Roger Williams University ($47,799) Barnard College ($47,329) Curry College ($46,736)

Other Majors at Franklin and Marshall College

Business Administration, Management and Operations ($64,664) Economics ($52,801) Political Science and Government ($45,928) Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics ($45,300) Public Health ($43,134) Behavioral Sciences ($38,391) Natural Resources Conservation and Research ($36,536) Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies ($33,476)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Biology trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biology at Franklin and Marshall College?
A score of 33/100 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 $443,259 in decade earnings vs $464,641 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →