Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $24,195/yr fall 25% below the $32,219 national median for Biology, General. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.8x 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 9% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $20,548 represents roughly 10 months of the $24,195 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #505 of 822 Biology, General programs, University of Southern Mississippi falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $52,007 show a 115% jump from the $24,195 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.