Cell Biology at Northeastern University

Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
42 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
43
Optimistic
42
Base Case
37
Pessimistic
Earnings $65,551/yr (75% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Large (70,200 openings/yr)
ROI 2.4x earnings multiple
Ranked #27 of 39 Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences programs

Program Analysis

Northeastern's signature co-op program is a significant driver of your early career success in this field. You'll gain invaluable practical experience directly within Boston's thriving biotech and pharmaceutical ecosystem, home to global leaders and innovative startups. This hands-on exposure, often leading to full-time offers, equips you with a competitive edge from day one, explaining the strong initial career outcomes. You'll find yourself contributing to cutting-edge research at institutions like Mass General Brigham or major pharma companies, often progressing into project management or specialized R&D roles. However, the "high AI risk" indicates that many routine lab tasks and data analysis functions within these roles are increasingly susceptible to automation. To future-proof your career, actively seek co-op placements and coursework that emphasize interdisciplinary skills, especially computational biology, bioinformatics, or data science applications within cell and anatomical sciences. Develop expertise in interpreting complex biological data and designing experiments, rather than just executing them, to ensure long-term adaptability.

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Cell Biology graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $619K $611K $548K
Earnings Multiple 2.4x 2.4x 2.2x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 46% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 43 42 37

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$252,564
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$128,464
49% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,493
3.9 months of Year 1 earnings

About Northeastern University

Northeastern University's 6% admission rate places it in the top tier of selectivity nationally, with a mid-sized student body of 15,719 in Boston, MA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $128,464 — 49% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Northeastern University →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620/yr
Biochemists and biophysicists $103,650/yr
View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Cell Biology at Other Schools

Other Majors at Northeastern University

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Cell Biology at Northeastern University?
A score of 42/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Cell Biology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Cell Biology careers?
With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $548,186 in decade earnings vs $618,671 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →