Biology at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
50 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
51
Optimistic
50
Base Case
46
Pessimistic
Earnings $51,711/yr (60% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 2.9x earnings multiple
Ranked #81 of 822 Biology, General programs Top 10%

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 $707K $692K $619K
Earnings Multiple 3.0x 2.9x 2.6x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 51 50 46

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$236,280
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$173,092
27% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,950
6.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$82,976
60% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Worcester Polytechnic Institute Biology graduates command $51,711/yr out of the gate, well above the $32,219 national median. That 60% premium suggests the program's reputation carries real labor-market weight.

An earnings multiple of 2.9x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 40% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $26,950 debt-to-$51,711 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

A #81 ranking out of 822 Biology programs nationally puts Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

Earnings growth from $51,711 to $82,976 over five years (60% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester Polytechnic Institute's 58% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, serving 5,344 students in Worcester, MA.

See all programs and financial aid at Worcester Polytechnic Institute →

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 Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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 Worcester Polytechnic Institute's Biology program score?
This program scores 50/100, 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →