Compare 29 Biology, General. programs in Virginia. Average earnings: $43,750.
The highest-earning Biology, General. program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $22K earnings gap across 29 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand. Virginia's biology programs demonstrate this perfectly—outcomes vary significantly based on program quality, not school reputation.
Virginia Military Institute's Biology, General. program leads with graduates earning $63,600, well above the state average of $43,750. But the rankings reveal more than VMI's strength—they show how regional programs compete. Randolph-Macon College follows at $55,443, while University of Mary Washington reaches $54,144, proving strong outcomes aren't limited to any single institution type.
Highest program earnings: $63,600
Strong outcomes with 82% acceptance
7.7% payment burden | Excellent
21.6% family burden | Challenging
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $63,600 | 38 | $22,996 | Excellent | $36,278 | Challenging | |
| #2 | Randolph-Macon CollegePrivate | $55,443 | 54 | $27,000 | Good | $46,254 | High |
| #3 | $54,144 | 89 | $20,500 | Good | $26,240 | Challenging | |
| #4 | Shenandoah UniversityPrivate | $53,262 | 28 | $25,000 | Good | $46,387 | High |
| #5 | George Mason UniversityPublic | $53,237 | 266 | $19,500 | Good | $25,142 | Challenging |
| #6 | University Of RichmondPrivate | $52,909 | 53 | $21,000 | Good | $30,512 | High |
| #7 | Roanoke CollegePrivate | $51,790 | 36 | $27,000 | Manageable | $40,178 | High |
| #8 | $51,421 | 281 | $17,500 | Good | $28,903 | Challenging | |
| #9 | $49,887 | 157 | $25,000 | Manageable | $44,122 | High | |
| #10 | Hampden-Sydney CollegePrivate | $48,487 | 22 | $26,000 | Manageable | $61,239 | High |
| #11 | Hampton UniversityPrivate | $48,438 | 75 | $25,442 | Manageable | $74,299 | High |
| #12 | Radford UniversityPublic | $47,617 | 102 | $24,000 | Manageable | $22,158 | High |
| #13 | William & MaryPublic | $47,139 | 137 | $18,500 | Good | $30,326 | High |
| #14 | $47,097 | 309 | $21,500 | Manageable | $35,325 | High | |
| #15 | Longwood UniversityPublic | $46,049 | 51 | $25,000 | Manageable | $36,395 | High |
| #16 | Emory & Henry UniversityPrivate | $45,484 | 12 | $26,332 | Manageable | $32,472 | High |
| #17 | James Madison UniversityPublic | $45,341 | 197 | $20,093 | Manageable | $37,285 | High |
| #18 | $43,873 | 352 | $21,500 | Manageable | $23,585 | High | |
| #19 | Bridgewater CollegePrivate | $42,648 | 32 | $26,000 | Manageable | $37,735 | High |
| #20 | Old Dominion UniversityPublic | $41,736 | 203 | $24,000 | Manageable | $18,866 | High |
| #21 | $40,623 | 46 | $26,500 | Challenging | $22,181 | High | |
| #22 | Liberty UniversityPrivate | $38,401 | 106 | $24,500 | Challenging | $16,398 | High |
| #23 | Virginia Union UniversityPrivate | $37,362 | 29 | $29,000 | High | $31,153 | High |
| #24 | Marymount UniversityPrivate | $33,993 | 28 | $25,000 | High | $45,008 | High |
| #25 | Mary Baldwin UniversityPrivate | $31,672 | 6 | $26,586 | High | $16,376 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
