Biology at University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
51
Optimistic
51
Base Case
49
Pessimistic
Earnings
$37,651/yr (17% vs median)
AI Risk
High (40% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI
11.2x earnings multiple (3.6x 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 | $663K | $651K | $587K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 11.4x | 11.2x | 10.1x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.7x | 3.6x | 3.2x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 49% | 45% | 35% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 51 | 51 | 49 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$58,240
Out-of-state: $181,348 (3.6x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,500
6.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$70,452
87% growth from Year 1
About University of California-Santa Cruz
A 63% admission rate makes University of California-Santa Cruz accessible to a wide range of qualified students, enrolling 17,812 students in Santa Cruz, CA.
See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Santa Cruz →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 Cruz
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does University of California-Santa Cruz'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 →