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Biology at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

La Crosse, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $36,823/yr (14% vs median)

AI Risk High (40% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)

ROI 16.7x earnings multiple (8.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #37 of 822 Biology, General programs Top 5%

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	$657K	$646K	$583K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	17.0x	16.7x	15.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	8.8x	8.6x	7.8x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	45%	35%
DegreeOutlook Score	55	54	53

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$38,604

Out-of-state: $74,764 (8.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$61,496

-59% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,000

7.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$69,335

88% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Biology graduates start at $36,823/yr — above the $32,219 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 16.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 40% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,000 debt-to-$36,823 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #37 out of 822 programs, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Biology program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $36,823 to $69,335 over five years (88% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

A 73% acceptance rate means University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 9,194 in La Crosse, WI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse →

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 Wisconsin-La Crosse

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 Wisconsin-La Crosse's Biology program score?

This program scores 54/100, 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.

Why does University of Wisconsin-La Crosse rank so high for Biology?

The #37 ranking out of 822 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →