Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $37,651 at University of California-Santa Cruz come in 17% above the national median of $32,219 for Biology programs.
The 11.2x 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 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $20,500 debt-to-$37,651 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
A #64 ranking out of 822 Biology programs nationally puts University of California-Santa Cruz in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.
Earnings growth from $37,651 to $70,452 over five years (87% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.