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Biology at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Edinburg, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $24,841/yr (-23% vs median)

AI Risk High (40% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)

ROI 15.1x earnings multiple (7.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #449 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	$603K	$595K	$543K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.3x	15.1x	13.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.6x	7.5x	6.8x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	45%	35%
DegreeOutlook Score	38	37	37

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$39,436

Out-of-state: $79,756 (7.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$26,000

34% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$12,051

5.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$55,383

123% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $24,841 place The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley below the $32,219 national median for Biology — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Biology programs nationally.

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.

With first-year pay of $24,841 far exceeding the $12,051 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #449 of 822 Biology programs, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $55,383 show a 123% jump from the $24,841 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley accepts 85% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 27,026 in Edinburg, TX. 64% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity. The average net cost of $26,000 over four years represents a 34% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley →

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 The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

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 The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley?

A score of 37/100 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 $543,426 in decade earnings vs $602,828 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Biology from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley?

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 →