Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology at University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia, SC · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
DegreeWorth Score (Base Case)
36
Optimistic
35
Base Case
30
Pessimistic
Earnings
$23,763/yr (-37% vs median)
AI Risk
High (45% exposed)
Job Market
Large (45,200 openings/yr)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $272K | $234K | $181K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 5.4x | 4.6x | 3.6x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 1.9x | 1.7x | 1.3x |
| Viable Career Paths | 8 of 8 | 8 of 8 | 8 of 8 |
| DegreeWorth Score | 36 | 35 | 30 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition (In-State)
$50,752
Out-of-state: $139,736
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,250
11.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Career Paths
Where Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology graduates typically work. Raw data — no blending. The scenarios above model how these factors interact. This field has roughly 45,200 combined openings per year.
| Career Path | Wage | Openings/yr | Growth | AI Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural sciences managers | $161,180 | 8,500 | +3.7% | 50% |
| Biochemists and biophysicists | $103,650 | 2,900 | +5.8% | 45% |
| Medical scientists, except epidemiologists | $100,590 | 9,600 | +8.7% | 52% |
| Biological scientists, all other | $93,330 | 4,800 | +1.2% | 49% |
| Microbiologists | $87,330 | 1,700 | +4.1% | 40% |
| Biological science teachers, postsecondary | $83,460 | 5,400 | +7.3% | 47% |
| Biological technicians | $52,000 | 9,100 | +3.5% | 42% |
| Food science technicians | $49,430 | 3,200 | +4.8% | 36% |
Compare & Explore
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeWorth Score for Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology at University of South Carolina-Columbia?
This program scores 35/100 in the Base Case scenario, factoring in earnings, AI disruption risk, job market size, and earnings multiple. The score ranges from 36 (optimistic) to 30 (pessimistic) depending on AI's impact.
How does AI affect Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology career prospects?
We model three scenarios: Optimistic (no disruption), Base Case (gradual AI adoption), and Pessimistic (aggressive AI displacement). In the base case, Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology graduates retain 8 of 8 viable career paths. 10-year earnings range from $181,195 (pessimistic) to $272,414 (optimistic).
How many job openings are there for Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology graduates?
The career paths mapped to Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology have roughly 45,200 combined job openings per year nationally, making this a large job market.
Is Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology at University of South Carolina-Columbia worth it?
In the Base Case, this degree earns 4.6x its in-state tuition over 10 years. Even in the Pessimistic scenario, the multiple is 3.6x. The spread between scenarios tells you how sensitive this degree is to AI disruption.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034
(employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE.
Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections.
"Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI.
Last updated 2025.