Biology, General at University of Houston-Clear Lake

Houston, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree
49 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
50
Optimistic
49
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,591/yr (10% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 17.7x earnings multiple (6.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #105 of 822 Biology, General programs Top 25%

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 $551K $547K $506K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.8x 17.7x 16.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.5x 6.4x 5.9x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 50 49 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)
$30,984
Out-of-state: $85,320 (6.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$44,224
-43% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,250
5.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,177
55% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $35,591 per year, Biology, General graduates from University of Houston-Clear Lake earn slightly above the $32,219 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 17.7x 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 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $15,250 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #105 out of 822 programs, University of Houston-Clear Lake's Biology, General program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $35,591 to $55,177 over five years (55% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Houston-Clear Lake

With 75% of applicants admitted, University of Houston-Clear Lake prioritizes broad access, enrolling 6,082 students in Houston, TX. With 44% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Houston-Clear Lake →

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

Biology, General at Other Schools

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Explore the Trade Alternative

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

How does University of Houston-Clear Lake's Biology, General program score?
This program scores 49/100 — on the lower end for Biology, General. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Biology, General to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Biology, General 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.
Why does University of Houston-Clear Lake rank so high for Biology, General?
The #105 ranking out of 822 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →