By major
Colleges for Biology in Virginia
38 colleges in Virginia award a bachelor’s degree in biology, according to federal data. Each is rated on academics and value, with every figure linked to its source.
Highest-rated
#1
Washington and Lee University
Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 2%Lexington, VA · Value B+ · Academics A+
#2
University of Virginia
Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 4%Charlottesville, VA · Value A · Academics A
#3
University of Richmond
Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 5%University of Richmond, VA · Value B · Academics A+
Where graduates earn the most
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates in this field a few years after finishing, from the College Scorecard.
| Rank | College | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia Military Institute Lexington, VA Earnings $71,547 · Debt $21,250 | $71,547 | $21,250 |
| 2 | University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA Earnings $70,240 · Debt $19,063 | $70,240 | $19,063 |
| 3 | University of Richmond University of Richmond, VA Earnings $69,564 · Debt $19,597 | $69,564 | $19,597 |
| 4 | Marymount University Arlington, VA Earnings $66,460 · Debt $27,000 | $66,460 | $27,000 |
| 5 | Shenandoah University Winchester, VA Earnings $66,070 · Debt $20,706 | $66,070 | $20,706 |
| 6 | George Mason University Fairfax, VA Earnings $64,301 · Debt $19,125 | $64,301 | $19,125 |
| 7 | James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA Earnings $62,914 · Debt $20,594 | $62,914 | $20,594 |
| 8 | Hampden-Sydney College Hampden-Sydney, VA Earnings $62,515 · Debt $24,500 | $62,515 | $24,500 |
| 9 | University of Lynchburg Lynchburg, VA Earnings $62,164 · Debt — | $62,164 | — |
| 10 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg, VA Earnings $61,864 · Debt $22,150 | $61,864 | $22,150 |
| 11 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA Earnings $61,703 · Debt $20,164 | $61,703 | $20,164 |
| 12 | Randolph-Macon College Ashland, VA Earnings $58,821 · Debt $24,990 | $58,821 | $24,990 |
| 13 | Bridgewater College Bridgewater, VA Earnings $58,732 · Debt $27,000 | $58,732 | $27,000 |
| 14 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA Earnings $58,420 · Debt $20,500 | $58,420 | $20,500 |
| 15 | Christopher Newport University Newport News, VA Earnings $55,657 · Debt $26,000 | $55,657 | $26,000 |
| 16 | Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA Earnings $55,304 · Debt $25,000 | $55,304 | $25,000 |
| 17 | Roanoke College Salem, VA Earnings $55,246 · Debt $27,000 | $55,246 | $27,000 |
| 18 | Virginia State University Petersburg, VA Earnings $53,398 · Debt $26,000 | $53,398 | $26,000 |
| 19 | Radford University Radford, VA Earnings $51,266 · Debt $22,751 | $51,266 | $22,751 |
| 20 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA Earnings $50,666 · Debt $21,500 | $50,666 | $21,500 |
| 21 | Longwood University Farmville, VA Earnings $49,777 · Debt $25,750 | $49,777 | $25,750 |
| 22 | William & Mary Williamsburg, VA Earnings $49,644 · Debt $15,041 | $49,644 | $15,041 |
| 23 | Hampton University Hampton, VA Earnings $49,539 · Debt $27,000 | $49,539 | $27,000 |
| 24 | Randolph College Lynchburg, VA Earnings $44,118 · Debt $26,373 | $44,118 | $26,373 |
| 25 | Virginia Union University Richmond, VA Earnings $40,032 · Debt $31,000 | $40,032 | $31,000 |
All 38
Filter, sort and compare these colleges
| School | Compass Score | Value | Academics | Net price | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington and Lee University Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value. Lexington · Private nonprofit | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A+Academics: A+ (grade A+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $23,781 | 2,277 | |
| University of Virginia Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value. Charlottesville · Public | AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | AAcademics: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $21,565 | 25,924 | |
| University of Richmond Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value. University of Richmond · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A+Academics: A+ (grade A+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $31,309 | 3,776 | |
| William & Mary Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value. Williamsburg · Public | AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | AAcademics: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $19,096 | 9,762 | |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value. Blacksburg · Public | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | AAcademics: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $24,953 | 38,294 | |
| James Madison University RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Harrisonburg · Public | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $23,322 | 22,758 | |
| Virginia Military Institute RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Lexington · Public | AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $17,113 | 1,560 | |
| Hampden-Sydney College RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.All-maleAll-male: the school enrolls men only. Hampden-Sydney · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $22,400 | 876 | |
| George Mason University RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Fairfax · Public | AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $17,915 | 39,527 | |
| University of Mary Washington RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Fredericksburg · Public | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $20,667 | 3,808 | |
| Christopher Newport University RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Newport News · Public | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $23,015 | 4,503 | |
| Hollins University RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.All-femaleAll-female: the school enrolls women only. Roanoke · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $20,896 | 782 | |
| Roanoke College RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Salem · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $24,503 | 1,835 | |
| Randolph-Macon College RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Ashland · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $27,866 | 1,523 | |
| University of Virginia's College at Wise RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Wise · Public | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $9,210 | 1,911 | |
| Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond · Public | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $23,433 | 28,238 | |
| Shenandoah University Winchester · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $30,298 | 4,343 | |
| University of Lynchburg Lynchburg · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $22,235 | 2,592 | |
| Eastern Mennonite University Harrisonburg · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $24,588 | 1,292 | |
| Longwood University Farmville · Public | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $19,066 | 4,545 | |
| Liberty University Lynchburg · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $29,357 | 103,068 | |
| Sweet Briar College All-femaleAll-female: the school enrolls women only. Sweet Briar · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $17,758 | 464 | |
| Bridgewater College Bridgewater · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $17,800 | 1,436 | |
| Hampton University Hampton · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $25,319 | 3,649 | |
| Old Dominion University Norfolk · Public | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $14,638 | 22,541 | |
| Emory & Henry University Emory · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $19,061 | 1,364 | |
| Averett University Danville · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $22,925 | 1,378 | |
| Randolph College Lynchburg · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $15,921 | 634 | |
| Radford University Radford · Public | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $14,578 | 7,531 | |
| Marymount University Arlington · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $29,137 | 3,667 | |
| Mary Baldwin University Staunton · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $12,756 | 1,792 | |
| Virginia Wesleyan University Virginia Beach · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $19,676 | 1,711 | |
| Bluefield University Bluefield · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $25,573 | 989 | |
| Southern Virginia University Buena Vista · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $22,213 | 967 | |
| Virginia State University Petersburg · Public | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $15,840 | 5,190 | |
| Ferrum College Ferrum · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $20,082 | 767 | |
| Norfolk State University Norfolk · Public | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $15,282 | 6,045 | |
| Virginia Union University Richmond · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $13,235 | 1,662 |
Common questions
How many colleges in Virginia offer a biology degree?
38, counting colleges that award a bachelor’s degree in biology in the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard data. Some colleges offer the field as a minor or under another name; check each college’s catalog.
How are these colleges rated?
Every college is rated from the U.S. Department of Education’s data: Academic Excellence (graduation, retention, preparation and teaching) and Value (what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and student debt). The major does not affect the grades. See the methodology.
Other majors
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