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Biology at Oberlin College

Oberlin, OH · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $22,684/yr (-30% vs median)

AI Risk High (40% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)

ROI 1.5x earnings multiple

Ranked #746 of 822 Biology, General programs

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	$379K	$387K	$381K
Earnings Multiple	1.5x	1.5x	1.5x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	45%	35%
DegreeOutlook Score	27	26	26

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$258,584

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$156,736

39% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,250

12.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $22,684 place Oberlin College below the $32,219 national median for Biology — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The financial case is thin at 1.5x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 -1% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $23,250 against $22,684/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.0 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.

Ranked #746 of 822 Biology programs, Oberlin College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Oberlin College

Oberlin College accepts 33% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, with a smaller student body of 2,950 in Oberlin, OH. After financial aid, the average student pays $156,736 over four years — 39% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Oberlin College →

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 Oberlin College

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

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 Oberlin College?

A score of 26/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Biology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Is Biology at Oberlin College worth the student debt?

Median debt of $23,250 against $22,684/yr starting salary means roughly 1.0 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 $381,473 in decade earnings vs $379,404 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Biology from Oberlin College?

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.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →