Biology at University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
49
Optimistic
48
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings
$33,486/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk
High (40% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI
12.1x earnings multiple (3.9x out-of-state)
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 | $738K | $722K | $642K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 12.3x | 12.1x | 10.7x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.0x | 3.9x | 3.5x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 49% | 45% | 35% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 49 | 48 | 48 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$59,860
Out-of-state: $182,968 (3.9x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,500
5.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$76,068
127% growth from Year 1
About University of California-Santa Barbara
A 28% acceptance rate puts University of California-Santa Barbara in competitive admissions territory, serving a student body of 23,205 in Santa Barbara, CA.
See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Santa Barbara →Top Career Paths
Natural sciences managers
$161,180/yr
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
$100,590/yr
Biological scientists, all other
$93,330/yr
Compare & Explore
Biology at Other Schools
Other Majors at University of California-Santa Barbara
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 at University of California-Santa Barbara?
A score of 48/100 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 $641,592 in decade earnings vs $738,258 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of California-Santa Barbara's Biology program stand out?
Ranked #107 of 822 programs nationally, University of California-Santa Barbara lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →