Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology: California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo vs Iowa State University
Head-to-Head
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | Iowa State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 14.3x | 15.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.1x | 5.9x |
| 4-Year Tuition (In-State) | $44,300 | $41,988 |
| Year 1 Earnings | $57,538 | $43,520 |
| 10-Year Earnings | $633K | $650K |
| Median Debt | $17,500 | $18,950 |
| Debt-to-Earnings Ratio | 3.6 months | 5.2 months |
| DegreeWorth Score (In-State) | 54/100 | 50/100 |
| Acceptance Rate | 29.8% | 89.1% |
Both programs have high AI automation risk (45% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →
ROI Breakdown
How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology graduates.
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | Iowa State University | |
|---|---|---|
| 4-Year Tuition (In-State) | $44,300 | $41,988 |
| 4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) | $123,980 | $110,732 |
| 10-Year Projected Earnings | $633K | $650K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 14.3x | 15.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.1x | 5.9x |
| 5-Year Salary Growth | +26% | +61% |
"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.
AI Disruption Scenarios
Both schools share identical AI exposure for Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | Iowa State University | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optim. | Base | Pessim. | Optim. | Base | Pessim. | |
| 10-Year Earnings | $646K | $633K | $571K | $664K | $650K | $584K |
| Earnings Multiple (IS) | 14.6x | 14.3x | 12.9x | 15.8x | 15.5x | 13.9x |
| DegreeWorth Score | 55 | 54 | 49 | 51 | 50 | 47 |
For the full AI analysis of Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology career paths, see the California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo or Iowa State University program pages.
Earnings Trajectory Comparison
Projected annual earnings for Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.
Career Paths
Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.
| Career Path | Wage | Openings/yr | Growth | AI Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural sciences managers | $161,180 | 8,500 | +3.7% | 50% |
| Biochemists and biophysicists | $103,650 | 2,900 | +5.8% | 45% |
| Medical scientists, except epidemiologists | $100,590 | 9,600 | +8.7% | 52% |
| Biological scientists, all other | $93,330 | 4,800 | +1.2% | 49% |
| Microbiologists | $87,330 | 1,700 | +4.1% | 40% |
| Biological science teachers, postsecondary | $83,460 | 5,400 | +7.3% | 47% |
| Biological technicians | $52,000 | 9,100 | +3.5% | 42% |
| Food science technicians | $49,430 | 3,200 | +4.8% | 36% |