Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $28,469 track close to the $28,448 national median for Zoology/Animal Biology programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
The 10.6x 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 — 46% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $17,625 debt-to-$28,469 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
Ranked #23 out of 55 programs, Washington State University's Zoology/Animal Biology offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
Earnings growth from $28,469 to $52,434 over five years (84% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.