Home › Central Washington University › Biology, General

Biology, General at Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $36,401/yr (13% vs median)

AI Risk High (40% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)

ROI 14.1x earnings multiple (4.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #200 of 822 Biology, General programs Top 25%

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	$521K	$519K	$484K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.2x	14.1x	13.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.9x	4.8x	4.5x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	45%	35%
DegreeOutlook Score	46	45	44

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$36,768

Out-of-state: $107,084 (4.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$58,860

-60% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,166

7.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$51,199

41% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Central Washington University's Biology, General graduates start at $36,401/yr — above the $32,219 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 14.1x 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 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,166 debt-to-$36,401 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #200 out of 822 programs, Central Washington University's Biology, General program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $36,401 to $51,199 shows 41% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Central Washington University

A 90% acceptance rate means Central Washington University is accessible to most applicants, serving 8,081 students in Ellensburg, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Central Washington 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, General at Other Schools

Other Majors at Central Washington University

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

How does Central Washington University's Biology, General program score?

This program scores 45/100 — on the lower end for Biology, General. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

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 Central Washington University rank so high for Biology, General?

The #200 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 →