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Biology at Indiana University-South Bend

South Bend, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
48 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
49
Optimistic
48
Base Case
46
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,242/yr (19% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 15.7x earnings multiple (5.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #109 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 graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $515K $513K $480K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.7x 15.7x 14.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.8x 5.8x 5.4x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 49 48 46

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$32,716
Out-of-state: $88,172 (5.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$33,456
-2% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,449
7.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$50,867
33% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Indiana University-South Bend's Biology graduates start at $38,242/yr — above the $32,219 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 15.7x 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 $23,449 debt-to-$38,242 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #109 out of 822 programs, Indiana University-South Bend's Biology program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $38,242 to $50,867 shows 33% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Indiana University-South Bend

A 86% acceptance rate means Indiana University-South Bend is accessible to most applicants, a smaller institution with 3,807 students in South Bend, IN. 41% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Indiana University-South Bend →

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 Indiana University-South Bend

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($67,253) Dental Support Services and Allied Professions ($55,314) Computer Science ($53,743) Business/Commerce, General ($48,238) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($43,128) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($43,058) Communication and Media Studies ($38,094) Social Work ($37,812)

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 Indiana University-South Bend's Biology program score?
This program scores 48/100 — 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.
Why does Indiana University-South Bend rank so high for Biology?
The #109 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 →