Biology at Randolph-Macon College

Ashland, VA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
31 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
32
Optimistic
31
Base Case
31
Pessimistic
Earnings $33,361/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 3.2x earnings multiple
Ranked #642 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 $619K $610K $555K
Earnings Multiple 3.2x 3.2x 2.9x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 32 31 31

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$192,008
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$111,036
42% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,990
9.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,791
88% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Randolph-Macon College's Biology program produces graduates earning $33,361/yr — within striking distance of the $32,219 national average for this field.

An earnings multiple of 3.2x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,990 represents roughly 9 months of the $33,361 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #642 of 822 Biology programs, Randolph-Macon College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $62,791 show a 88% jump from the $33,361 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Randolph-Macon College

A 83% acceptance rate means Randolph-Macon College is accessible to most applicants, with a smaller student body of 1,489 in Ashland, VA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $111,036 — 42% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Randolph-Macon 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 Randolph-Macon 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 Randolph-Macon College?
A score of 31/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Biology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
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 $555,089 in decade earnings vs $618,919 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →