Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology: California State University-Los Angeles vs Northeastern University

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
In-State
22.1x
$27,252 tuition
3.2x
$252,564 tuition
Out-of-State
8.1x
$74,792 tuition
3.2x
$252,564 tuition
$602,401 10-yr earnings · Public
$804,355 10-yr earnings · Private nonprofit

Head-to-Head

California State University-Los Angeles Northeastern University
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 22.1x 3.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.1x 3.2x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $27,252 $252,564
Year 1 Earnings $50,428 $63,781
10-Year Earnings $602K $804K
Median Debt $16,156 $23,250
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 3.8 months 4.4 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 57/100 40/100
Acceptance Rate 91.9% 5.7%

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 State University-Los Angeles Northeastern University
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $27,252 $252,564
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $74,792 $252,564
10-Year Projected Earnings $602K $804K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 22.1x 3.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.1x 3.2x
5-Year Salary Growth +32% +53%

"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 State University-Los Angeles Northeastern University
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $612K $602K $548K $832K $804K $699K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 22.5x 22.1x 20.1x 3.3x 3.2x 2.8x
DegreeWorth Score 59 57 53 42 40 36

For the full AI analysis of Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology career paths, see the California State University-Los Angeles or Northeastern University program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$225,312
California State University-Los Angeles saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$13,353/yr
Northeastern University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
22.1x / 3.2x
Out-of-state: 8.1x / 3.2x

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%
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology: California State University-Los Angeles or Northeastern University?
California State University-Los Angeles scores 57/100 while Northeastern University scores 40/100. California State University-Los Angeles has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology?
California State University-Los Angeles has an in-state earnings multiple of 22.1x vs Northeastern University's 3.2x. That means California State University-Los Angeles grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition. The $225,312 tuition gap is the biggest driver of this difference.
How do California State University-Los Angeles and Northeastern University compare on Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $50,428 at California State University-Los Angeles vs $63,781 at Northeastern University. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $602,401 vs $804,355 — a difference of $201,954.
How much does Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $27,252 at California State University-Los Angeles and $252,564 at Northeastern University. Median debt at graduation is $16,156 vs $23,250. Both programs lead to the same Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.