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Biology at University of Wisconsin-River Falls

River Falls, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
45 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
46
Optimistic
45
Base Case
45
Pessimistic
Earnings $34,762/yr (8% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 15.4x earnings multiple (7.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #202 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 graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $532K $529K $492K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.5x 15.4x 14.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.9x 7.8x 7.3x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 46 45 45

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$34,424
Out-of-state: $67,548 (7.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$58,856
-71% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
6.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,212
50% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $34,762/yr, edging above the $32,219 national average for Biology — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 15.4x 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 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $19,500 debt-to-$34,762 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #202 out of 822 programs, University of Wisconsin-River Falls's Biology program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $34,762 to $52,212 over five years (50% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Wisconsin-River Falls

University of Wisconsin-River Falls has a 82% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a compact campus enrolling 4,152 students in River Falls, WI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Wisconsin-River Falls →

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

Compare this program → View all 822 schools offering Biology →

Biology at Other Schools

University of San Diego ($54,223) Trinity College ($52,179) Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($51,711) Edgewood College ($51,134) Shepherd University ($49,165) Roger Williams University ($47,799) Barnard College ($47,329) Curry College ($46,736)

Other Majors at University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Physics ($62,196) Agricultural Engineering ($57,627) Accounting and Related Services ($56,825) Agricultural Business and Management ($53,911) Computer Systems Analysis ($52,507) Plant Sciences ($48,791) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($48,570) Social Work ($45,870)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Biology trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Wisconsin-River Falls's Biology program score?
This program scores 45/100 — 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.
Why does University of Wisconsin-River Falls rank so high for Biology?
The #202 ranking out of 822 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →