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Biology, General at St Olaf College

Northfield, MN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $36,429/yr (13% vs median)

AI Risk High (40% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)

ROI 2.8x earnings multiple

Ranked #532 of 822 Biology, General programs

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	$638K	$629K	$569K
Earnings Multiple	2.8x	2.8x	2.5x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	45%	35%
DegreeOutlook Score	34	34	32

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$227,880

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$91,008

60% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,000

7.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$66,856

84% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

St Olaf College's Biology, General graduates start at $36,429/yr — above the $32,219 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The financial case is thin at 2.8x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

Some AI exposure exists in Biology, General's typical career paths, with 40% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 11% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $36,429 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #532 of 822 Biology, General programs, St Olaf College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $66,856 show a 84% jump from the $36,429 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About St Olaf College

St Olaf College's 52% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, with a smaller student body of 3,049 in Northfield, MN. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $91,008 — 60% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at St Olaf College →

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, General at Other Schools

Other Majors at St Olaf College

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biology, General at St Olaf College?

A score of 34/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Biology, General. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Biology, General careers?

With 40% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $569,202 in decade earnings vs $638,392 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is St Olaf College a hidden gem for Biology, General?

After financial aid, the average student pays $91,008 over four years — 60% below the $227,880 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →