Biologyat Smith College
Graduates earn $32,747/yr in their first year — about 2.0% above the national Biology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $509K; scenarios range from $476K to $510K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Smith College
A Smith Biology degree equips you with a rigorous scientific foundation, emphasizing critical thinking and research skills highly valued by employers and graduate programs. While your initial roles might involve laboratory research or healthcare support, the strong analytical training from a top liberal arts institution positions you well for long-term growth. Many graduates leverage this broad background for advanced degrees in medicine, public health, or specialized biological sciences, often moving into leadership or dedicated research roles within academic institutions, pharmaceutical companies, or government agencies. The "general" nature of the degree means you'll need to strategically build specialized skills through internships or further education. To mitigate future AI risks, focus on developing interdisciplinary skills like computational biology or data science during your studies, preparing you for complex problem-solving that automation can't replicate.
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 Smith College'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 Smith College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Smith College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Smith College, 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 Smith College
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biology at Smith College?
A score of 24/100 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 $475,873 in decade earnings vs $509,635 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Smith College a hidden gem for Biology?
After financial aid, the average student pays $104,724 over four years — 57% below the $246,272 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.