Biology at Fort Hays State University

Hays, KS · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
52 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
53
Optimistic
52
Base Case
50
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,134/yr (15% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 23.7x earnings multiple (7.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #53 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 $536K $533K $495K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 23.8x 23.7x 22.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.0x 7.9x 7.4x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 53 52 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)
$22,532
Out-of-state: $67,244 (7.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$53,972
-140% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
6.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,646
44% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $37,134 at Fort Hays State University come in 15% above the national median of $32,219 for Biology programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 23.7x 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 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $19,500 represents roughly 6 months of the $37,134 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #53 of 822 programs, Fort Hays State University's Biology program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Earnings grow from $37,134 to $53,646 over five years — a 44% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Fort Hays State University

Fort Hays State University accepts 92% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 9,792 in Hays, KS.

See all programs and financial aid at Fort Hays State 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biology at Fort Hays State University?
A score of 52/100 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 $494,965 in decade earnings vs $535,975 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →