Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology: North Carolina State University at Raleigh vs University of Colorado Boulder

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
In-State
22.0x
$35,580 tuition
9.5x
$65,720 tuition
Out-of-State
6.2x
$127,068 tuition
3.7x
$167,772 tuition
$782,891 10-yr earnings · Public
$623,795 10-yr earnings · Public

Head-to-Head

North Carolina State University at Raleigh University of Colorado Boulder
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 22.0x 9.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.2x 3.7x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $35,580 $65,720
Year 1 Earnings $44,101 $50,474
10-Year Earnings $783K $624K
Median Debt $22,000 $18,487
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 6.0 months 4.4 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 55/100 45/100
Acceptance Rate 39.9% 83.3%

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.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh University of Colorado Boulder
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $35,580 $65,720
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $127,068 $167,772
10-Year Projected Earnings $783K $624K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 22.0x 9.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.2x 3.7x
5-Year Salary Growth +94% +37%

"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.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh University of Colorado Boulder
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $809K $783K $683K $636K $624K $564K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 22.7x 22.0x 19.2x 9.7x 9.5x 8.6x
DegreeWorth Score 56 55 51 46 45 40

For the full AI analysis of Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology career paths, see the North Carolina State University at Raleigh or University of Colorado Boulder 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)
$30,140
North Carolina State University at Raleigh saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$6,373/yr
University of Colorado Boulder grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
22.0x / 9.5x
Out-of-state: 6.2x / 3.7x

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: North Carolina State University at Raleigh or University of Colorado Boulder?
North Carolina State University at Raleigh scores 55/100 while University of Colorado Boulder scores 45/100. North Carolina State University at Raleigh 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?
North Carolina State University at Raleigh has an in-state earnings multiple of 22.0x vs University of Colorado Boulder's 9.5x. That means North Carolina State University at Raleigh grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition. The $30,140 tuition gap is the biggest driver of this difference.
How do North Carolina State University at Raleigh and University of Colorado Boulder compare on Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $44,101 at North Carolina State University at Raleigh vs $50,474 at University of Colorado Boulder. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $782,891 vs $623,795 — a difference of $159,096.
How much does Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $35,580 at North Carolina State University at Raleigh and $65,720 at University of Colorado Boulder. Median debt at graduation is $22,000 vs $18,487. 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.