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Biology, General at Texas State Technical College

Waco, TX · Public · Associate Degree

with a mid-sized student body of 9,153 in Waco, TX.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $21,288/yr fall 29% below the $30,068 national median for Biology, General. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 24.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Biology, General programs nationally.

The 40% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 40% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Biology, General graduates.

At $10,417 in median debt against $21,288 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #18 of 18 Biology, General programs, Texas State Technical College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $37,230 show a 75% jump from the $21,288 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

Biology, General offers 5 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

39 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
32
Low End
39
Score
41
High End
Earnings $21,288/yr (-29% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (60% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$374K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
26.0x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
10 of 10
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$14,384
Out-of-state: $23,684
Median Debt at Graduation
$10,417
5.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$37,230
75% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Biology, General graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Natural sciences managers $161,180 +3.7% 50%
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists $100,590 +8.7% 48%
Biological scientists, all other $93,330 +1.2% 51%
Natural sciences managers
$161,180
+3.7% growth 50% AI-proof
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
$100,590
+8.7% growth 48% AI-proof
Biological scientists, all other
$93,330
+1.2% growth 51% AI-proof

View all 10 career paths with full salary data →

About Biology, General Careers

Your career could begin in a lab as a biological technician, where your days involve preparing cell cultures, operating equipment like centrifuges and microscopes, and meticulously logging experimental data. Alternatively, you might start as a secondary school teacher, crafting lesson plans, managing a classroom, and guiding students through dissections and experiments.

Read the full Biology, General career guide →

Compare & Explore

Biology, General Overview

View all 18 schools offering Biology, General →

Biology, General at Other Schools

Union Adventist University ($74,593) Davidson College ($39,602) St Philip's College ($35,699) University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point ($35,304) Austin Community College District ($34,560) Reedley College ($30,520) Northwest Vista College ($28,923) South Texas College ($28,791)

Other Majors at Texas State Technical College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($79,324) Electrical and Power Transmission Installers ($76,445) Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians ($68,052) Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($64,485) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($62,718) Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians ($59,719) Dental Support Services and Allied Professions ($56,609) Electrical and Power Transmission Installers ($56,597)

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare Biology, General degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Texas State Technical College's Biology, General program score?
At 39/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Biology, General programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Will AI affect Biology, General careers?
AI won't 'replace' Biology, General careers outright, but it is likely to reduce job openings. We model 40% task exposure, which compresses employment probability in our scenarios.
Can you still earn well with Biology, General from Texas State Technical College?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Can I learn Biology, General through an apprenticeship instead?
Biology, General connects to 5 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
Is there demand for Biology, General workers?
With approximately 113,000 annual openings across mapped careers, Biology, General offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →