Biology, General at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Chattanooga, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
38 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
39
Optimistic
38
Base Case
39
Pessimistic
Earnings $29,643/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 13.4x earnings multiple (7.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #416 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 $549K $545K $504K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.5x 13.4x 12.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.5x 7.5x 6.9x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 39 38 39

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$40,576
Out-of-state: $72,832 (7.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,268
-26% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
7.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,212
76% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $29,643/yr, roughly in line with the $32,219 national median for Biology, General. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 13.4x 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 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $19,500 debt-to-$29,643 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #416 out of 822 programs, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's financial outcomes for Biology, General trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $29,643 to $52,212 over five years (76% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga accepts 77% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 9,878 students in Chattanooga, TN.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga →

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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Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's Biology, General program score?
This program scores 38/100 — 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 →