Biology at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
50 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
50
Optimistic
50
Base Case
49
Pessimistic
Earnings $33,471/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 17.3x earnings multiple (4.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #86 of 822 Biology, General programs Top 10%

Program Analysis

Your UNC Chapel Hill Biology degree opens doors due to the university's strong academic reputation and its prime location. The Research Triangle Park (RTP) ecosystem, just a stone's throw away, is a major advantage. This region is a hotbed for pharmaceutical, biotech, and healthcare companies like Biogen, GSK, and numerous startups, along with top-tier research institutions. While "General Biology" offers a broad foundation, its versatility means you'll need to proactively shape your path. Many graduates leverage this degree for pre-med or pre-grad school preparation, finding initial roles as research assistants or lab technicians within UNC Health or RTP firms. Given the rising AI risk in some analytical and lab-based roles, focusing your coursework on specific sub-disciplines like bioinformatics, genomics, or data science, alongside securing multiple hands-on internships in the RTP, will be crucial for competitive, high-growth careers.

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 $632K $623K $565K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.6x 17.3x 15.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.0x 4.0x 3.6x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 50 50 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)
$35,956
Out-of-state: $157,320 (4.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,932
-44% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
5.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$64,430
92% growth from Year 1

About University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

A 19% acceptance rate puts University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in competitive admissions territory, with 20,556 students enrolled in Chapel Hill, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill →

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 at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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

How does University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Biology program score?
This program scores 50/100, 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 →