Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $29,468 track close to the $32,219 national median for Biology, General programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
The 12.4x 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 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $22,750 debt-to-$29,468 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
Ranked #411 out of 822 programs, Portland State University's Biology, General offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
Earnings growth from $29,468 to $53,504 over five years (82% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.