Home › California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo › Biology, General

Biology, General at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
53 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
54
Optimistic
53
Base Case
52
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,638/yr (11% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 15.5x earnings multiple (5.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #39 of 822 Biology, General programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $699K $685K $613K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.8x 15.5x 13.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.6x 5.5x 4.9x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 54 53 52

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$44,300
Out-of-state: $123,980 (5.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$62,496
-41% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,000
7.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$73,422
106% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $35,638 at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo come in 11% above the national median of $32,219 for Biology, General programs.

The 15.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 40% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,000 debt-to-$35,638 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #39 out of 822 programs, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's Biology, General program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $35,638 to $73,422 over five years (106% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo accepts 30% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, with 21,521 students enrolled in San Luis Obispo, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo →

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

Compare this program → View all 822 schools offering Biology, General →

Biology, General at Other Schools

University of San Diego ($54,223) Trinity College ($52,179) Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($51,711) Edgewood College ($51,134) Shepherd University ($49,165) Roger Williams University ($47,799) Barnard College ($47,329) Curry College ($46,736)

Other Majors at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Computer Engineering ($111,560) Computer Science ($111,141) Construction Management ($92,785) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($90,576) Industrial Engineering ($87,226) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($85,509) Mechanical Engineering ($83,011) Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($82,197)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Biology, General trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's Biology, General program score?
This program scores 53/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Biology, General graduates.
How vulnerable is Biology, General to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Biology, General careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 40% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo rank so high for Biology, General?
The #39 ranking out of 822 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →