Biology at San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
52 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
53
Optimistic
52
Base Case
52
Pessimistic
Earnings $33,597/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 20.2x earnings multiple (8.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #50 of 822 Biology, General programs Top 10%

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 $682K $669K $601K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 20.6x 20.2x 18.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.5x 8.3x 7.4x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 53 52 52

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$33,160
Out-of-state: $80,680 (8.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$64,696
-95% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,010
6.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$70,169
109% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $33,597/yr, Biology graduates from San Diego State University land near the $32,219 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 20.2x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 40% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $18,010 debt-to-$33,597 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

A #50 ranking out of 822 Biology programs nationally puts San Diego State University in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

Earnings growth from $33,597 to $70,169 over five years (109% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About San Diego State University

A 34% acceptance rate puts San Diego State University in competitive admissions territory, one of the larger campuses at 33,654 students in San Diego, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at San Diego 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 San Diego State University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does San Diego State University's Biology program score?
This program scores 52/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Biology graduates.
How vulnerable is Biology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Biology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 40% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →