Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
30
Optimistic
30
Base Case
31
Pessimistic
Earnings
$25,303/yr (-15% vs median)
AI Risk
High (46% exposed)
Job Market
Large (72,700 openings/yr)
ROI
16.8x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Ecology & Evolutionary Biology graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $491K | $491K | $463K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 16.8x | 16.8x | 15.8x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.3x | 5.3x | 5.0x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 53% | 49% | 36% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 30 | 30 | 31 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,268
Out-of-state: $91,940 (5.3x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
9.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$42,738
69% growth from Year 1
About University of North Carolina Wilmington
A 74% acceptance rate means University of North Carolina Wilmington is accessible to most applicants, serving 14,176 students in Wilmington, NC.
See all programs and financial aid at University of North Carolina Wilmington →Top Career Paths
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$161,180/yr
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$105,620/yr
Statisticians
$103,300/yr
Compare & Explore
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does University of North Carolina Wilmington's Ecology & Evolutionary Biology program score?
This program scores 30/100 — on the lower end for Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Ecology & Evolutionary Biology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Ecology & Evolutionary Biology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 46% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Ecology & Evolutionary Biology earnings lower at University of North Carolina Wilmington?
Lower starting pay at University of North Carolina Wilmington may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →