Biology at Liberty University

Liberty's biology program starts graduates at just $23,803—well below both the national median ($32,316) and Virginia's median ($32,457) for biology majors. That first-year figure ranks in the bottom 5% nationally and puts graduates nearly $9,000 behind the typical Virginia biology graduate. With debt of $23,299, new graduates face a concerning initial debt-to-earnings ratio just under 1:1.

The silver lining is substantial earnings growth: graduates see a 61% jump to $38,401 by year four, moving above both state and national benchmarks. This trajectory suggests the degree opens doors, but graduates should expect a financially challenging first few years. The low initial earnings likely reflect the time many biology majors need to complete additional certifications, pursue graduate programs, or gain entry-level experience before accessing better-paying opportunities.

For parents, the key question is whether your student can weather those early years. If they're planning medical school, veterinary school, or other graduate programs immediately after graduation, these earnings may be temporary. But if they need to work and pay down debt right after graduation, Liberty's biology program will make that harder than most Virginia alternatives. Virginia Military Institute and Hampden-Sydney College graduates, for instance, start at nearly double Liberty's first-year earnings.