Biology at University of Puget Sound

Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
23 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
24
Optimistic
23
Base Case
23
Pessimistic
Earnings $30,191/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 2.4x earnings multiple
Ranked #792 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 $593K $586K $536K
Earnings Multiple 2.5x 2.4x 2.2x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 24 23 23

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$239,600
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$155,680
35% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,309
9.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,877
92% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $30,191/yr, roughly in line with the $32,219 national median for Biology. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

An earnings multiple of 2.4x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 40% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $24,309 debt-to-$30,191 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #792 out of 822 programs, University of Puget Sound's financial outcomes for Biology trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $30,191 to $57,877 over five years (92% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Puget Sound

University of Puget Sound accepts 76% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 1,631 in Tacoma, WA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $155,680 — 35% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Puget Sound →

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 University of Puget Sound

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

How does University of Puget Sound's Biology program score?
This program scores 23/100 — on the lower end for Biology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Biology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Biology 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 →