Ecology & Evolutionary Biologyat Harvard University
Graduates earn $31,999/yr in their first year — about 7.0% above the national Ecology & Evolutionary Biology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $772K; scenarios range from $669K to $793K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Harvard University
Your degree from Harvard in Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology immediately signals a high level of academic rigor and research capability, opening doors that are often less accessible to others. The program's location in Cambridge, a global hub for biotech, environmental science, and academic research, provides unparalleled access to prestigious institutions and cutting-edge projects. You'll find strong recruiting pipelines into advanced research roles, conservation leadership, government agencies, and even data-intensive positions within private industry or academia, often requiring further graduate study. While some analytical aspects of the field face AI risk, a Harvard education uniquely positions you to *lead* these technological advancements. Focus on cultivating strong quantitative and computational skills, and actively seek interdisciplinary research opportunities; this will significantly enhance your adaptability and long-term career resilience.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Harvard University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
How Harvard University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Harvard University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Harvard University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University?
A score of 31/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Ecology & Evolutionary Biology careers?
With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $669,049 in decade earnings vs $792,820 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Harvard University a hidden gem for Ecology & Evolutionary Biology?
After financial aid, the average student pays $67,264 over four years — 72% below the $236,304 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.