Home Schools Indiana State University Biology
Biological Sciences · Biology Rank #76 of 822

Biologyat Indiana State University

Graduates earn $43,656/yr in their first year — about 35.0% above the national Biology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $508K; scenarios range from $475K to $509K depending on AI disruption.

Terre Haute, IN Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
50 AVERAGE
51
Optimistic
47
Pessimistic
Earnings
$43,656
1-year post-graduation
ROI
11.8x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$508K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
45% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Indiana State University

Indiana State's General Biology program punches above its weight, largely thanks to Indiana's robust life sciences ecosystem. You'll find strong demand for graduates in the pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotechnology sectors across the state, particularly in the Indianapolis metropolitan area. Major employers like Eli Lilly, Cook Medical, and numerous research institutions actively recruit for roles spanning R&D support, quality control, and clinical trial coordination. The program's general nature also provides an excellent springboard for pursuing professional health degrees, like medicine or dentistry, which significantly elevates long-term career earnings. To truly capitalize on this degree, proactively seek out internships or research opportunities to build practical lab and analytical skills that distinguish you in the job market.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$475K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score47/100
Earnings Multiple11.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$508K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score50/100
Earnings Multiple12.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$509K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score51/100
Earnings Multiple12.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Indiana State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Biology graduates typically work

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.

1
Natural sciences managers
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$161,180/yr
High
2
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
+8.7% 10-yr growth · 9,600 openings/yr
$100,590/yr
High
3
Biological scientists, all other
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 4,800 openings/yr
$93,330/yr
Moderate
4
Life scientists, all other
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 400 openings/yr
$87,800/yr
Low
5
Biological science teachers, postsecondary
+7.3% 10-yr growth · 5,400 openings/yr
$83,460/yr
Moderate
6
Forensic science technicians
+12.8% 10-yr growth · 2,900 openings/yr
$67,440/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Biology

How Indiana State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of San Diego
CA · Private nonprofit
45
DW Score
$54K
1-yr earn
2.1x
ROI
Trinity College
CT · Private nonprofit
42
DW Score
$52K
1-yr earn
0.9x
ROI
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
MA · Private nonprofit
50
DW Score
$52K
1-yr earn
2.5x
ROI
Edgewood College
WI · Private nonprofit
45
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
3.1x
ROI
Top score
Shepherd University
WV · Public
59
DW Score
$49K
1-yr earn
15.8x
ROI
Also at Indiana State University

Other top programs at Indiana State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Indiana State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Biology offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Biology trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Biology at Indiana State University

How does Indiana State University's Biology program score?

This program scores 50/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Biology graduates.

How vulnerable is Biology to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Biology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 40% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.