Home Schools Lehigh University Biology
Biological Sciences · Biology Rank #229 of 822

Biologyat Lehigh University

Graduates earn $45,695/yr in their first year — about 42.0% above the national Biology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $661K; scenarios range from $595K to $674K depending on AI disruption.

Bethlehem, PA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
44 AVERAGE
44
Optimistic
40
Pessimistic
Earnings
$45,695
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.1x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$661K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
45% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Lehigh University

Lehigh's exceptional outcomes in General Biology reflect a program that effectively prepares students for competitive, high-paying career paths. As a selective private institution, you'll benefit from a rigorous curriculum emphasizing critical thinking and advanced scientific principles, highly valued skills that open doors beyond traditional lab work. Many graduates leverage this foundation for advanced degrees, particularly in medicine, dentistry, or specialized research, significantly boosting long-term earning potential. Others find success in the robust pharmaceutical, biotech, and healthcare industries thriving in the broader Pennsylvania and New Jersey region, often moving into roles that blend scientific expertise with management or data analysis. Your strong alumni network and career services will be invaluable for securing internships and early-career placements. To maximize your prospects, actively seek research opportunities and internships, particularly those integrating data science, to future-proof your career against automation trends.

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
$595K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score40/100
Earnings Multiple2.4x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$661K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score44/100
Earnings Multiple2.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$674K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score44/100
Earnings Multiple2.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Lehigh 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 Lehigh 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 Lehigh University

Other top programs at Lehigh University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Lehigh 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 Lehigh University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biology at Lehigh University?

A score of 44/100 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 $594,717 in decade earnings vs $673,587 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.