Best colleges for Biology in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
Virginia Military Institute, Shenandoah University and University of Richmond are the top bachelor's Biology programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. Virginia Military Institute leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,797, College Scorecard. Virginia Commonwealth University, George Mason University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University award the most Biology degrees in Virginia: 391, 365 and 300 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 39 Virginia colleges offer Biology and award 3,019 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Biology program, also known as Biology, General, is designed for students interested in the scientific study of life and living organisms. This broad natural science encompasses various fields, focusing on the structure, function,…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia Military Institute Lexington Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,797 | 30 | 76% | — | $23,000 |
| 2 | Shenandoah University Winchester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,980 | 21 | 67% | $27,455 | $23,250 |
| 3 | University of Richmond University of Richmond Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,300 | 53 | 85% | $24,049 | $20,064 |
| 4 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,194 | 69 | 66% | — | $22,567 |
| 5 | George Mason University Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,719 | 365 | 68% | — | $21,625 |
| 6 | Bridgewater College Bridgewater Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,494 | 27 | 53% | $19,485 | $27,000 |
| 7 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,159 | 187 | 80% | — | $23,000 |
| 8 | Longwood University Farmville Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,686 | 28 | 61% | — | $26,946 |
| 9 | Randolph-Macon College Ashland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,361 | 33 | 70% | $26,498 | $26,067 |
| 10 | Radford University Radford Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,457 | 48 | 49% | — | $25,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Biology degrees in Virginia
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public | 391 | $31,149 |
| 2 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 365 | $34,719 |
| 3 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public | 300 | $28,239 |
| 4 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public | 268 | $23,395 |
| 5 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public | 191 | $28,953 |
| 6 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public | 187 | $34,159 |
| 7 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Public | 161 | Not reported |
| 8 | William & Mary Williamsburg Public | 156 | $29,851 |
| 9 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit | 132 | $23,803 |
| 10 | Christopher Newport University Newport News Public | 121 | $30,287 |
ShowHide the other 29 Virginia colleges offering Biology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluefield University | Bluefield | Private not-for-profit | 73 |
| University of Mary Washington | Fredericksburg | Public | 69 |
| University of Richmond | University of Richmond | Private not-for-profit | 53 |
| Norfolk State University | Norfolk | Public | 50 |
| Radford University | Radford | Public | 48 |
| Virginia State University | Petersburg | Public | 40 |
| Randolph-Macon College | Ashland | Private not-for-profit | 33 |
| Hampton University | Hampton | Private not-for-profit | 32 |
| Virginia Military Institute | Lexington | Public | 30 |
| Longwood University | Farmville | Public | 28 |
| Bridgewater College | Bridgewater | Private not-for-profit | 27 |
| Virginia Wesleyan University | Virginia Beach | Private not-for-profit | 26 |
| University of Lynchburg | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 24 |
| Hollins University | Roanoke | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| Shenandoah University | Winchester | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| Marymount University | Arlington | Private not-for-profit | 20 |
| Sweet Briar College | Sweet Briar | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Washington and Lee University | Lexington | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Eastern Mennonite University | Harrisonburg | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Roanoke College | Salem | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Hampden-Sydney College | Hampden-Sydney | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Randolph College | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Southern Virginia University | Buena Vista | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Averett University | Danville | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Emory & Henry University | Emory | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Mary Baldwin University | Staunton | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Virginia Union University | Richmond | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Richard Bland College | South Prince George | Public | 4 |
| Ferrum College | Ferrum | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Biological Technicians (SOC 19-4021).
Top skills
What Biological Technicians earn in Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Biology programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Biology degrees?+
Virginia Commonwealth University (391 graduates a year), George Mason University (365 graduates a year) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (300 graduates a year) award the most Biology degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 39 Virginia colleges offer Biology.
What is the best college for Biology in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, Virginia Military Institute leads among bachelor's Biology programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,797, College Scorecard. Shenandoah University and University of Richmond follow. By degrees awarded, Virginia Commonwealth University is the largest, with 391 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Biology program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Virginia Military Institute tops the list at $43,797. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Biological Technicians earn in Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Biological Technicians in Virginia is $57,850 (median $53,360), across about 1,820 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Biology program?+
The Biology program, also known as Biology, General, is designed for students interested in the scientific study of life and living organisms. This broad natural science encompasses various fields, focusing on the structure, function,…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, science, active listening, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Biological Technicians?+
The national job outlook is about +3.5% growth with around 9,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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