Biology, General: Shepherd University vs Worcester State University

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, WV
In-State
15.6x
$34,568 tuition
13.5x
$45,144 tuition
Out-of-State
7.1x
$76,328 tuition
8.7x
$69,464 tuition
$539,716 10-yr earnings · Public
$607,607 10-yr earnings · Public

Head-to-Head

Shepherd University Worcester State University
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.6x 13.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.1x 8.7x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $34,568 $45,144
Year 1 Earnings $49,165 $44,450
10-Year Earnings $540K $608K
Median Debt $19,100 $21,043
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 4.7 months 5.7 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 57/100 52/100
Acceptance Rate 95.7% 89.9%

Both programs have high AI automation risk (40% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Biology, General graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Biology, General graduates.

Shepherd University Worcester State University
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $34,568 $45,144
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $76,328 $69,464
10-Year Projected Earnings $540K $608K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.6x 13.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.1x 8.7x
5-Year Salary Growth +18% +52%

"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 Biology, General (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

Shepherd University Worcester State University
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $543K $540K $500K $616K $608K $553K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 15.7x 15.6x 14.5x 13.6x 13.5x 12.2x
DegreeWorth Score 57 57 53 53 52 48

For the full AI analysis of Biology, General career paths, see the Shepherd University or Worcester State University program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Biology, General graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$10,576
Shepherd University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$4,715/yr
Shepherd University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
15.6x / 13.5x
Out-of-state: 7.1x / 8.7x

Career Paths

Biology, General 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%
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists $100,590 9,600 +8.7% 52%
Biological scientists, all other $93,330 4,800 +1.2% 49%
Life scientists, all other $87,800 400 +3.7% 0%
Biological science teachers, postsecondary $83,460 5,400 +7.3% 47%
Forensic science technicians $67,440 2,900 +12.8% 39%
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education $64,580 66,200 -1.6% 33%
Biological technicians $52,000 9,100 +3.5% 42%
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Biology, General Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Biology, General: Shepherd University or Worcester State University?
Shepherd University scores 57/100 while Worcester State University scores 52/100. Shepherd University 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 Biology, General?
Shepherd University has an in-state earnings multiple of 15.6x vs Worcester State University's 13.5x. That means Shepherd University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do Shepherd University and Worcester State University compare on Biology, General earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $49,165 at Shepherd University vs $44,450 at Worcester State University. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $539,716 vs $607,607 — a difference of $67,891.
How much does Biology, General cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $34,568 at Shepherd University and $45,144 at Worcester State University. Median debt at graduation is $19,100 vs $21,043. Both programs lead to the same Biology, General 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.