Biology, General at University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
48 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
49
Optimistic
48
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings $33,486/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 12.1x earnings multiple (3.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #107 of 822 Biology, General programs Top 25%

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 $738K $722K $642K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.3x 12.1x 10.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.0x 3.9x 3.5x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 49 48 48

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$59,860
Out-of-state: $182,968 (3.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$55,300
8% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,500
5.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$76,068
127% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $33,486/yr, Biology, General graduates from University of California-Santa Barbara land near the $32,219 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Biology, General programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Biology, General's typical career paths, with 40% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 13% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $14,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #107 of 822 nationally, this is a top-5% Biology, General program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $76,068 show a 127% jump from the $33,486 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of California-Santa Barbara

A 28% acceptance rate puts University of California-Santa Barbara in competitive admissions territory, serving a student body of 23,205 in Santa Barbara, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Santa Barbara →

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

Other Majors at University of California-Santa Barbara

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, General at University of California-Santa Barbara?
A score of 48/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Biology, General. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Biology, General careers?
With 40% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $641,592 in decade earnings vs $738,258 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of California-Santa Barbara's Biology, General program stand out?
Ranked #107 of 822 programs nationally, University of California-Santa Barbara lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →