Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $43,722 put University of Southern Maine's Biology program 36% above the national median of $32,219 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Biology programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Biology's typical career paths, with 40% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $43,722 far exceeding the $17,577 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #18 of 822 nationally, this is a top-5% Biology program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Earnings grow from $43,722 to $63,868 over five years — a 46% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.