Biology, General at University of Charleston

Charleston, WV · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
30 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
31
Optimistic
30
Base Case
31
Pessimistic
Earnings $29,188/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 4.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #670 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 $610K $602K $549K
Earnings Multiple 4.6x 4.6x 4.2x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 31 30 31

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$131,368
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$88,048
33% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,125
9.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,223
103% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $29,188 track close to the $32,219 national median for Biology, General programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

An earnings multiple of 4.6x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,125 represents roughly 10 months of the $29,188 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #670 of 822 Biology, General programs, University of Charleston falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $59,223 show a 103% jump from the $29,188 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of Charleston

With a 65% acceptance rate, University of Charleston is moderately selective, with a smaller student body of 2,083 in Charleston, WV. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $88,048 — 33% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Charleston →

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

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Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biology, General at University of Charleston?
A score of 30/100 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 $548,714 in decade earnings vs $610,125 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →