Biotechnologyat James Madison University
Graduates earn $41,832/yr in their first year — about 13.0% below the national Biotechnology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $486K; scenarios range from $459K to $486K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at James Madison University
Graduates earn $41,832/yr, roughly in line with the $48,121 national median for Biotechnology. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.0x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
Some AI exposure exists in Biotechnology's typical career paths, with 48% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $21,000 represents roughly 6 months of the $41,832 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #15 of 18 Biotechnology programs, James Madison University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
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 James Madison 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 Biotechnology
How James Madison University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at James Madison University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at James Madison University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Biotechnology at James Madison University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biotechnology at James Madison University?
A score of 37/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Biotechnology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Biotechnology careers?
With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $458,900 in decade earnings vs $485,774 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.