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Biology at Northland College

Ashland, WI · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $24,540/yr (-24% vs median)

AI Risk High (40% exposed)

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

ROI 2.3x earnings multiple

Ranked #800 of 822 Biology, General programs

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	$390K	$397K	$389K
Earnings Multiple	2.3x	2.3x	2.3x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	45%	35%
DegreeOutlook Score	22	22	22

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$169,964

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$83,120

51% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,000

12.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $24,540 place Northland College below the $32,219 national median for Biology — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The financial case is thin at 2.3x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 0% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $26,000 against $24,540/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.1 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.

Ranked #800 of 822 Biology programs, Northland College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Northland College

Northland College accepts 72% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 457 students in Ashland, WI. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $83,120 — 51% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Northland 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

Biology at Other Schools

Other Majors at Northland College

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biology at Northland College?

A score of 22/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Biology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Is Biology at Northland College worth the student debt?

Median debt of $26,000 against $24,540/yr starting salary means roughly 1.1 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.

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 $388,986 in decade earnings vs $389,767 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Biology from Northland College?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

Is Northland College a hidden gem for Biology?

After financial aid, the average student pays $83,120 over four years — 51% below the $169,964 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 →