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Biology at California State University-Monterey Bay

Seaside, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
43 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
44
Optimistic
43
Base Case
42
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,312/yr (10% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 16.3x earnings multiple (6.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #280 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 $486K $486K $459K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.3x 16.3x 15.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.3x 6.3x 5.9x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 44 43 42

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,748
Out-of-state: $77,268 (6.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$57,948
-95% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,000
6.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,572
29% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $35,312/yr, edging above the $32,219 national average for Biology — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 16.3x 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 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $19,000 debt-to-$35,312 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #280 out of 822 programs, California State University-Monterey Bay's Biology offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $35,312 to $45,572 shows 29% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About California State University-Monterey Bay

California State University-Monterey Bay has a 95% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 5,811 in Seaside, CA. With 43% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Monterey Bay →

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 →

Biology 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 State University-Monterey Bay

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($117,088) Computer Science ($71,458) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($47,825) Human Services, General ($37,501) Hospitality Administration/Management ($35,760) Social Sciences, General ($34,678) International/Global Studies ($34,246) Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services ($34,089)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Biology 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 State University-Monterey Bay's Biology program score?
This program scores 43/100 — on the lower end for Biology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Biology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Biology 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →