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Biology at University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
51 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
52
Optimistic
51
Base Case
50
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,642/yr (14% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 11.9x earnings multiple (3.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #63 of 822 Biology, General programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Biology graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $721K $705K $629K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.1x 11.9x 10.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.9x 3.9x 3.4x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 52 51 50

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$59,400
Out-of-state: $182,508 (3.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,916
-1% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,000
4.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$76,503
109% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $36,642 per year, Biology graduates from University of California-Berkeley earn slightly above the $32,219 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 11.9x 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 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $13,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

A #63 ranking out of 822 Biology programs nationally puts University of California-Berkeley in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

Earnings growth from $36,642 to $76,503 over five years (109% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of California-Berkeley

With just 12% of applicants admitted, University of California-Berkeley ranks among the nation's most selective schools, serving a student body of 33,073 in Berkeley, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Berkeley →

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

Compare this program → View all 822 schools offering Biology →

Biology at Other Schools

University of San Diego ($54,223) Trinity College ($52,179) Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($51,711) Edgewood College ($51,134) Shepherd University ($49,165) Roger Williams University ($47,799) Barnard College ($47,329) Curry College ($46,736)

Other Majors at University of California-Berkeley

Computer Science ($149,866) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($137,295) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($90,008) Operations Research ($88,685) Mechanical Engineering ($88,497) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($88,030) Statistics ($83,227) Chemical Engineering ($81,553)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Biology trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

How does University of California-Berkeley's Biology program score?
This program scores 51/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Biology graduates.
How vulnerable is Biology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Biology 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →