Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $25,086 place West Virginia University below the $32,219 national median for Biology — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.
The 16.0x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $20,500 debt-to-$25,086 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
Ranked #388 out of 822 programs, West Virginia University's Biology offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
Earnings growth from $25,086 to $57,866 over five years (131% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.