Human Biologyat University of Southern California
Graduates earn $23,405/yr in their first year — about 25.0% below the national Human Biology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $910K; scenarios range from $795K to $951K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Southern California
Studying Human Biology at a prestigious institution like USC positions you for a rigorous academic experience, often with a strong pre-health or pre-graduate school emphasis. The initial earnings trajectory you see reflects this common path: many graduates immediately pursue medical school, physician assistant programs, or advanced research degrees. During these years, you'll often be gaining valuable clinical experience, working as a research assistant, or taking gap years, which typically means lower entry-level salaries compared to peers entering more directly vocational fields.
The Los Angeles market offers extensive opportunities in healthcare and biotech, but entry into higher-paying roles often requires these advanced credentials or specialized skills developed post-bachelor's. The program's interdisciplinary nature, while excellent for foundational knowledge, means you'll need to actively define your niche. To maximize your return, strategically pursue internships, research, and clinical exposure early on. This will be invaluable for distinguishing yourself in competitive graduate school applications or for securing specialized roles that mitigate AI risk in areas like diagnostics or lab work.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Southern California's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Human Biology
How University of Southern California stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Southern California
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Southern California, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Human Biology at University of Southern California
How does University of Southern California's Human Biology program score?
This program scores 21/100 — on the lower end for Human Biology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Human Biology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Human 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.
Why are Human Biology earnings lower at University of Southern California?
Lower starting pay at University of Southern California may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
How affordable is Human Biology at University of Southern California after financial aid?
Sticker price is $272,948, but the average net cost is $127,708 — a 53% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.