Biology at Bethel University

Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
40 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
41
Optimistic
40
Base Case
38
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,924/yr (18% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 3.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #350 of 822 Biology, General programs Top 50%

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 $646K $635K $574K
Earnings Multiple 3.8x 3.7x 3.3x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 41 40 38

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$171,720
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$113,756
34% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,026
7.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$68,538
81% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Bethel University's Biology graduates start at $37,924/yr — above the $32,219 national average, though not by a wide margin.

An earnings multiple of 3.7x 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 11% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $23,026 represents roughly 7 months of the $37,924 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #350 of 822 Biology programs, Bethel University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $68,538 show a 81% jump from the $37,924 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Bethel University

A 91% acceptance rate means Bethel University is accessible to most applicants, a smaller institution with 2,012 students in Saint Paul, MN. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $113,756 — 34% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Bethel University →

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 Bethel University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biology at Bethel University?
A score of 40/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Biology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
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 $574,379 in decade earnings vs $645,531 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →