Ecology & Evolutionary Biologyat St Lawrence University
Graduates earn $17,443/yr in their first year — about 42.0% below the national Ecology & Evolutionary Biology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $349K; scenarios range from $358K to $338K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at St Lawrence University
For a St. Lawrence Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology degree, you'll see earnings trends below the national average for this field. This isn't necessarily a reflection on the quality of the education, but rather the typical career paths and labor market dynamics. Many graduates from programs like this, especially from liberal arts institutions, gravitate towards roles in conservation, environmental education, government agencies, or non-profit organizations. These vital sectors often offer lower starting salaries compared to private industry research or biotech roles.
St. Lawrence's strong liberal arts foundation will equip you with excellent critical thinking and communication skills, highly valued in policy analysis, advocacy, or field-based roles often found with organizations like the NYSDEC or local land trusts. To boost your earning potential, consider pairing your major with a minor in data science, GIS, or even environmental policy, and aggressively pursue internships to build specialized skills and professional networks. Geographic flexibility can also open doors to higher-paying opportunities outside the immediate region.
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 St Lawrence 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 Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
How St Lawrence University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at St Lawrence University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at St Lawrence University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at St Lawrence University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at St Lawrence University?
A score of 23/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at St Lawrence University worth the student debt?
Median debt of $26,500 against $17,443/yr starting salary means roughly 1.5 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
Will AI replace Ecology & Evolutionary Biology careers?
With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $358,244 in decade earnings vs $337,986 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Ecology & Evolutionary Biology from St Lawrence University?
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.
Is St Lawrence University a hidden gem for Ecology & Evolutionary Biology?
After financial aid, the average student pays $122,244 over four years — 52% below the $255,480 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.