Biology at Northwest Missouri State University

Maryville, MO · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
48 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
48
Optimistic
48
Base Case
46
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,983/yr (18% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 13.2x earnings multiple (8.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #114 of 822 Biology, General programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $541K $537K $498K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.3x 13.2x 12.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.1x 8.1x 7.5x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 48 48 46

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$40,724
Out-of-state: $66,492 (8.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,296
-46% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,000
8.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,616
44% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $37,983 at Northwest Missouri State University come in 18% above the national median of $32,219 for Biology programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.2x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Biology programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Biology's typical career paths, with 40% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $26,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $37,983 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #114 of 822 nationally, this is a top-5% Biology program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $37,983 to $54,616 over five years — a 44% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Northwest Missouri State University

Northwest Missouri State University accepts 86% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 4,550 in Maryville, MO.

See all programs and financial aid at Northwest Missouri State University →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists $100,590/yr
Biological scientists, all other $93,330/yr
View all 10 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Biology at Other Schools

Other Majors at Northwest Missouri State University

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For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biology at Northwest Missouri State University?
A score of 48/100 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 $498,372 in decade earnings vs $540,673 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Northwest Missouri State University's Biology program stand out?
Ranked #114 of 822 programs nationally, Northwest Missouri State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →