Biology at Austin College

Sherman, TX · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
24 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
25
Optimistic
24
Base Case
23
Pessimistic
Earnings $18,071/yr (-44% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 4.2x earnings multiple
Ranked #779 of 822 Biology, General programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Biology graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $801K $780K $687K
Earnings Multiple 4.3x 4.2x 3.7x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 25 24 23

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$186,000
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$93,804
50% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,277
16.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$64,927
259% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Austin College's Biology graduates start at $18,071/yr, trailing the $32,219 national average by 44%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

An earnings multiple of 4.2x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Biology's typical career paths, with 40% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 14% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,277 against $18,071/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.3 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.

Ranked #779 of 822 Biology programs, Austin College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $64,927 show a 259% jump from the $18,071 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Austin College

Austin College's 47% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, a smaller institution with 1,125 students in Sherman, TX. The average net cost of $93,804 over four years represents a 50% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Austin College →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists $100,590/yr
Biological scientists, all other $93,330/yr
View all 10 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Biology at Other Schools

Other Majors at Austin College

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biology at Austin College?
A score of 24/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Biology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Biology at Austin College worth the student debt?
Median debt of $24,277 against $18,071/yr starting salary means roughly 1.3 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
Will AI replace Biology careers?
With 40% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $687,066 in decade earnings vs $800,990 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Biology from Austin College?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →