Home Schools Mississippi State University Biology
Biological Sciences · Biology Rank #320 of 822

Biologyat Mississippi State University

Graduates earn $20,056/yr in their first year — about 38.0% below the national Biology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $754K; scenarios range from $667K to $773K depending on AI disruption.

Mississippi State, MS Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
41 AVERAGE
42
Optimistic
41
Pessimistic
Earnings
$20,056
1-year post-graduation
ROI
15.7x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$754K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
45% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Mississippi State University

The data indicates that graduates from this General Biology program typically experience a more challenging earnings trajectory compared to the national average for the major. This often reflects the regional labor market, where fewer large-scale biotech or pharmaceutical employers might be present. Many students pursue this broad degree as a foundational step towards further education in health professions or specialized graduate research, meaning your initial post-bachelor's earnings could be lower while you complete those additional programs. If immediate employment is your goal, securing internships early, specializing with minors in areas like bioinformatics or agricultural sciences, or focusing on applied laboratory skills will be crucial. Consider networking aggressively with local employers in healthcare, environmental, or educational sectors during your studies to understand specific regional opportunities and stand out.

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
$667K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score41/100
Earnings Multiple17.0x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$754K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score41/100
Earnings Multiple19.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$773K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score42/100
Earnings Multiple19.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Other top programs at Mississippi State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Mississippi 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 Mississippi State University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biology at Mississippi State University?

A score of 41/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Biology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Is Biology at Mississippi State University worth the student debt?

Median debt of $22,296 against $20,056/yr starting salary means roughly 1.1 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.

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 $666,529 in decade earnings vs $772,659 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Biology from Mississippi State University?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.