Biologyat Shepherd University
Graduates earn $49,165/yr in their first year — about 53.0% above the national Biology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $540K; scenarios range from $500K to $543K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Shepherd University
Shepherd's Biology program consistently performs well, likely due to its strategic location at the edge of the bustling Mid-Atlantic scientific corridor. Being in Shepherdstown, you're within reach of major research institutions, federal agencies like NIH and FDA, and a thriving biotech and pharmaceutical industry spanning Maryland and Northern Virginia. This proximity offers invaluable internship and entry-point opportunities that many programs lack, giving graduates a significant head start into professional roles or advanced studies. The curriculum likely emphasizes a strong foundational science, preparing you not just for lab work but for the critical thinking needed in management or specialized research. To maximize your trajectory, actively pursue internships and research experiences early on; they are crucial for specializing your broad biology degree into a high-demand career path and developing unique expertise.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Shepherd University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Biology
How Shepherd University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Shepherd University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Shepherd 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 →Frequently asked about Biology at Shepherd University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biology at Shepherd University?
A score of 59/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Biology field.
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 $500,125 in decade earnings vs $543,094 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Shepherd University's Biology program stand out?
Ranked #4 of 822 programs nationally, Shepherd University lands in the top 1%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.