Biology, General at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

Edwardsville, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
49 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
49
Optimistic
49
Base Case
47
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,067/yr (18% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 11.3x earnings multiple
Ranked #90 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, General graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $592K $585K $535K
Earnings Multiple 11.5x 11.3x 10.4x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 49 49 47

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$51,688
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$54,784
-6% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,500
6.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,744
62% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $38,067/yr, edging above the $32,219 national average for Biology, General — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 11.3x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,500 debt-to-$38,067 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #90 out of 822 programs, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville's Biology, General program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $38,067 to $61,744 over five years (62% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville has a 97% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 8,836 in Edwardsville, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville →

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

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Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville's Biology, General program score?
This program scores 49/100 — on the lower end for Biology, General. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Biology, General to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Biology, General 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.
Why does Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville rank so high for Biology, General?
The #90 ranking out of 822 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →