Biology at Northwest Vista College

San Antonio, TX · Public · Associate Degree · Biology, General

serving 13,872 students in San Antonio, TX.

Program Analysis

At $28,923/yr, Biology graduates from Northwest Vista College land near the $30,068 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

With a 63.4x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

Career paths for Biology carry above-average AI exposure (40% of tasks). The 32% scenario spread means the difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes is substantial.

The median debt load of $7,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

A #6 ranking among 18 Biology programs places Northwest Vista College in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

A 43% earnings increase from $28,923 to $41,429 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

The 5 apprenticeship pathways connected to Biology reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

54 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
47
Low End
54
Score
56
High End
Earnings $28,923/yr (-4% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (60% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$448K
9.4% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
65.6x
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)
$6,824
Out-of-state: $28,844
Median Debt at Graduation
$7,000
2.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$41,429
43% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Biology 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 →

Biology Career Guide

What can you do with a Biology credential from Northwest Vista College? Our career guide maps every occupation path with earnings and growth data.

Read the full Biology career guide →

Compare & Explore

Biology Overview

Biology at Other Schools

Other Majors at Northwest Vista College

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Northwest Vista College's Biology program score?
This program scores 54/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Biology graduates.
What's the AI risk for Biology graduates from Northwest Vista College?
With 40% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $302,596 in decade earnings vs $447,891 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
How affordable is Biology at Northwest Vista College?
At $7,000 in median debt, Biology graduates from Northwest Vista College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
Are there apprenticeship options for Biology?
There are 5 registered apprenticeships connected to Biology occupations, such as Bio-Manufacturing Technician (Downstream) and Bio-Manufacturing Technician (Upstream). The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Is there demand for Biology workers?
At 113,000 annual openings, Biology has a very large employment base. Northwest Vista College graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →