Biology at George Mason University

George Mason's biology program shows exactly what you want to see: graduates who start modestly but gain significant momentum. That $34,719 first-year salary jumps to $53,237 by year four—a 53% increase that suggests these graduates are landing positions with real advancement potential, not just entry-level lab work that plateaus quickly.

The debt picture looks reasonable at $21,625, below both state and national medians, though the program ranks in the 74th percentile nationally for debt (meaning three-quarters of biology programs nationwide send students out with less). At 60th percentile for earnings among Virginia biology programs, George Mason sits comfortably in the middle of the pack—earning less than Virginia Military Institute or Hampden-Sydney graduates, but outperforming the typical Virginia biology grad and doing considerably better than the national median.

For a highly accessible program (89% admission rate), this represents solid value. The fourth-year earnings suggest graduates are successfully transitioning into healthcare, research, or graduate programs that actually pay. If your child is using this as a stepping stone to medical school, pharmacy, or another professional degree, the manageable debt load is what matters most. For those entering the workforce directly, that strong earnings trajectory makes the initial modest salary easier to justify.