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Biological Sciences · Biology Rank #81 of 822

Biologyat Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Graduates earn $51,711/yr in their first year — about 60.0% above the national Biology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $692K; scenarios range from $619K to $707K depending on AI disruption.

Worcester, MA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
50 AVERAGE
51
Optimistic
46
Pessimistic
Earnings
$51,711
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.5x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$692K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
45% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at WPI

Worcester Polytechnic's general biology program stands out because it's not just pure science; it's *applied* science from an engineering-focused institution. Your WPI degree signals a strong analytical and problem-solving skill set, honed through its signature project-based learning. This makes you highly attractive to employers in the robust Massachusetts biotech and pharmaceutical corridor, extending from Worcester right into Cambridge and Boston. You'll find graduates quickly transitioning into R&D, quality assurance, or even scientific project management roles at major pharmaceutical companies and innovative medical device firms. The program's reputation for producing work-ready professionals means you're often seen as having a head start in industry, opening doors to advanced positions like medical scientists or natural sciences managers earlier in your career. To truly capitalize on this, actively seek out interdisciplinary projects and leverage the extensive local internship opportunities to build your professional network from day one.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$619K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score46/100
Earnings Multiple2.6x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$692K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score50/100
Earnings Multiple2.9x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$707K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score51/100
Earnings Multiple3.0x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to WPI's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Biology graduates typically work

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.

1
Natural sciences managers
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$161,180/yr
High
2
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
+8.7% 10-yr growth · 9,600 openings/yr
$100,590/yr
High
3
Biological scientists, all other
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 4,800 openings/yr
$93,330/yr
Moderate
4
Life scientists, all other
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 400 openings/yr
$87,800/yr
Low
5
Biological science teachers, postsecondary
+7.3% 10-yr growth · 5,400 openings/yr
$83,460/yr
Moderate
6
Forensic science technicians
+12.8% 10-yr growth · 2,900 openings/yr
$67,440/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Biology

How WPI stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of San Diego
CA · Private nonprofit
45
DW Score
$54K
1-yr earn
2.1x
ROI
Trinity College
CT · Private nonprofit
42
DW Score
$52K
1-yr earn
0.9x
ROI
Edgewood College
WI · Private nonprofit
45
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
3.1x
ROI
Top score
Shepherd University
WV · Public
59
DW Score
$49K
1-yr earn
15.8x
ROI
Roger Williams University
RI · Private nonprofit
41
DW Score
$48K
1-yr earn
1.8x
ROI
Also at WPI

Other top programs at WPI

Other highest-scoring programs offered at WPI, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Biology offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Biology trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Biology at WPI

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.