Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $25,271/yr fall 15% below the $29,875 national median for Ecology & Evolution. 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 Ecology & Evolution programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Ecology & Evolution's typical career paths, with 46% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $18,965 represents roughly 9 months of the $25,271 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #37 of 64 Ecology & Evolution programs, University of South Carolina-Columbia falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $47,536 show a 88% jump from the $25,271 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.