Biology, General at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Bend, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree
38 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
39
Optimistic
38
Base Case
38
Pessimistic
Earnings $30,982/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 11.0x earnings multiple (4.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #423 of 822 Biology, General programs

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 $558K $553K $511K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.1x 11.0x 10.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.0x 4.0x 3.7x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 39 38 38

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$50,376
Out-of-state: $139,776 (4.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$70,888
-41% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,500
7.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,017
74% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $30,982 track close to the $32,219 national median for Biology, General programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Biology, General programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Biology, General'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 $20,500 represents roughly 8 months of the $30,982 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #423 of 822 Biology, General programs, Oregon State University-Cascades Campus falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $54,017 show a 74% jump from the $30,982 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

With a 68% acceptance rate, Oregon State University-Cascades Campus is moderately selective, a compact campus enrolling 1,054 students in Bend, OR.

See all programs and financial aid at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus →

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 Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

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, General at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus?
A score of 38/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Biology, General. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Biology, General careers?
With 40% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $510,768 in decade earnings vs $557,776 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →