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Biology at CUNY City College

New York, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
50 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
51
Optimistic
50
Base Case
50
Pessimistic
Earnings $28,324/yr (-12% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 26.8x earnings multiple (12.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #84 of 822 Biology, General programs Top 10%

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 $809K $788K $693K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 27.6x 26.8x 23.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 13.2x 12.9x 11.3x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 51 50 50

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,360
Out-of-state: $61,160 (12.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$13,944
53% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,382
5.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$78,147
176% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $28,324 track close to the $32,219 national median for Biology programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 26.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Biology programs nationally.

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 14% gap from the optimistic case.

At $13,382 in median debt against $28,324 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #84 of 822 programs, CUNY City College's Biology program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $78,147 show a 176% jump from the $28,324 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About CUNY City College

With a 58% acceptance rate, CUNY City College is moderately selective, enrolling 11,934 students in New York, NY. With 60% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $13,944 over four years — 53% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at CUNY City College →

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 CUNY City College

Computer Science ($83,258) Computer Engineering ($78,326) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($78,172) Chemical Engineering ($67,450) Civil Engineering ($67,194) Mechanical Engineering ($65,905) Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($62,945) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($56,711)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Biology trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 CUNY City College?
A score of 50/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Biology field.
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 $692,836 in decade earnings vs $808,950 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is CUNY City College a hidden gem for Biology?
After financial aid, the average student pays $13,944 over four years — 53% below the $29,360 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →