Biology at Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
40 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
41
Optimistic
40
Base Case
41
Pessimistic
Earnings $29,945/yr (-7% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 12.8x earnings multiple (5.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #346 of 822 Biology, General programs Top 50%

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 $591K $585K $535K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.9x 12.8x 11.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.5x 5.4x 5.0x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 41 40 41

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$45,744
Out-of-state: $108,000 (5.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$43,664
5% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,822
8.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,509
92% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $29,945/yr, roughly in line with the $32,219 national median for Biology. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 12.8x 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 $20,822 debt-to-$29,945 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #346 out of 822 programs, Western Kentucky University's Biology offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $29,945 to $57,509 over five years (92% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Western Kentucky University

Western Kentucky University accepts 97% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 12,267 students in Bowling Green, KY.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Kentucky University →

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

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Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Western Kentucky University's Biology program score?
This program scores 40/100 — 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 →