Home › Reed College › Biology

Biology at Reed College

Portland, OR · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
27 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
28
Optimistic
27
Base Case
28
Pessimistic
Earnings $25,596/yr (-21% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 1.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #720 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 $396K $402K $393K
Earnings Multiple 1.5x 1.5x 1.5x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 28 27 28

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$268,080
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$159,804
40% less than sticker · See by income

Program Analysis

At $25,596 per year, Biology graduates from Reed College earn below the $32,219 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

The financial case is thin at 1.5x — 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 1% gap from the optimistic case.

Ranked #720 of 822 Biology programs, Reed College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Reed College

A 27% acceptance rate puts Reed College in competitive admissions territory, a smaller institution with 1,407 students in Portland, OR. The average net cost of $159,804 over four years represents a 40% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Reed 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

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 Reed College

Economics ($53,110) Psychology, General ($32,634) Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services ($25,561) English Language and Literature, General ($15,790)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Biology trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biology at Reed College?
A score of 27/100 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 $393,259 in decade earnings vs $395,663 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Biology from Reed 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →