Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $19,882/yr fall 38% below the $32,219 national median for Biology, General. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Biology, General programs nationally.
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 20% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $20,500 against $19,882/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.0 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.
At #400 of 822 Biology, General programs, University of Detroit Mercy scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $103,618 show a 421% jump from the $19,882 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.