Biotechnology at California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
58 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
59
Optimistic
58
Base Case
55
Pessimistic
Earnings $42,712/yr (-11% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Medium (18,700 openings/yr)
ROI 27.0x earnings multiple (10.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #7 of 18 Biotechnology programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $797K $766K $666K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 28.1x 27.0x 23.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 10.5x 10.1x 8.8x
Probability of Field Employment 53% 48% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 59 58 55

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$28,380
Out-of-state: $75,900 (10.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$30,396
-7% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,618
5.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$86,383
102% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $42,712/yr, roughly in line with the $48,121 national median for Biotechnology. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 27.0x 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 — 48% task exposure — and the 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $42,712 far exceeding the $20,618 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #7 out of 18 programs, California State University-Northridge's Biotechnology offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $42,712 to $86,383 over five years (102% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Northridge

California State University-Northridge accepts 93% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 32,357 in Northridge, CA. With 56% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

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

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Biological scientists, all other $93,330/yr
Biological science teachers, postsecondary $83,460/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Biotechnology at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-Northridge

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Northridge's Biotechnology program score?
This program scores 58/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Biotechnology graduates.
How vulnerable is Biotechnology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Biotechnology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 48% 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 →