Biology, General at Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
35 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
35
Optimistic
35
Base Case
34
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,270/yr (13% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 2.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #495 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 $668K $657K $591K
Earnings Multiple 2.8x 2.8x 2.5x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 35 35 34

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$236,964
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$203,836
14% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
6.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$70,331
94% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $36,270 at Santa Clara University come in 13% above the national median of $32,219 for Biology, General programs.

An earnings multiple of 2.8x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 40% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $19,500 debt-to-$36,270 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #495 out of 822 programs, Santa Clara University's financial outcomes for Biology, General trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $36,270 to $70,331 over five years (94% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Santa Clara University

A 44% admission rate makes Santa Clara University accessible to a wide range of qualified students, serving 6,235 students in Santa Clara, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at Santa Clara University →

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

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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

How does Santa Clara University's Biology, General program score?
This program scores 35/100 — on the lower end for Biology, General. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Biology, General to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Biology, General careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 40% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →