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Biology at Whitman College

Walla Walla, WA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
21 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
22
Optimistic
21
Base Case
22
Pessimistic
Earnings $28,538/yr (-11% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 2.4x earnings multiple
Ranked #809 of 822 Biology, General programs

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 $598K $591K $540K
Earnings Multiple 2.4x 2.4x 2.2x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 22 21 22

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$245,968
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$142,024
42% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,444
101% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $28,538 track close to the $32,219 national median for Biology programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The financial case is thin at 2.4x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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.

Ranked #809 of 822 Biology programs, Whitman College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $57,444 show a 101% jump from the $28,538 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Whitman College

With a 50% acceptance rate, Whitman College is moderately selective, a smaller institution with 1,523 students in Walla Walla, WA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $142,024 — 42% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Whitman College →

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

Compare this program → View all 822 schools offering Biology →

Biology at Other Schools

University of San Diego ($54,223) Trinity College ($52,179) Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($51,711) Edgewood College ($51,134) Shepherd University ($49,165) Roger Williams University ($47,799) Barnard College ($47,329) Curry College ($46,736)

Other Majors at Whitman College

Economics ($46,832) Psychology, General ($33,090) Political Science and Government ($27,689) English Language and Literature, General ($25,574)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Biology trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biology at Whitman College?
A score of 21/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Biology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Biology careers?
With 40% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $539,990 in decade earnings vs $598,093 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →