Biology at Hampden-Sydney College

Hampden-Sydney's biology graduates earn nearly $10,000 more than the typical biology major nationwide—a substantial premium that places this program in the 95th percentile nationally and 80th percentile within Virginia. While the sample size is small (under 30 graduates), the first-year earnings of $41,876 trail only Virginia Military Institute among Virginia biology programs and sit well above both the state median ($32,457) and national benchmark ($32,316). The debt load of $24,500 is slightly below state and national averages, creating a favorable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59.

The 16% earnings growth between years one and four is solid, pushing median pay to $48,487—roughly $16,000 above what most biology majors earn at that stage. This trajectory matters for a field where many graduates pursue graduate school or professional programs; having stronger early earnings provides more financial flexibility for those decisions.

The small sample size requires caution—outcomes for a handful of graduates may not predict your child's experience, especially since results can swing dramatically year to year with limited data. That said, the combination of low debt and top-tier earnings makes this program's financial profile compelling compared to most biology degrees. If your child is considering pre-med or graduate studies, the strong early earnings and manageable debt create a better foundation than what typical biology programs deliver.