Biology at University of Houston-Downtown

Houston, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
36 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
37
Optimistic
36
Base Case
36
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,025/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 15.3x earnings multiple (6.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #488 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 $470K $471K $447K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.2x 15.3x 14.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.6x 6.6x 6.3x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 37 36 36

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,832
Out-of-state: $71,152 (6.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$58,492
-90% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,527
8.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$41,923
35% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $31,025 track close to the $32,219 national median for Biology programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.3x 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 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $21,527 represents roughly 8 months of the $31,025 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #488 of 822 Biology programs, University of Houston-Downtown falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $31,025 to $41,923 over five years — a 35% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Houston-Downtown

University of Houston-Downtown has a 91% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 12,812 in Houston, TX. With 52% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Houston-Downtown →

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

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For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biology at University of Houston-Downtown?
A score of 36/100 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 $446,965 in decade earnings vs $469,753 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →