Location: Randolph, VT•In-State Tuition: $11,400•Out-of-State Tuition: $21,408•Admission Rate: 83%
Median Earnings (1yr)
$39,471
92nd percentile
60th percentile in Vermont
Est. Median Debt
$23,313
Est. from national median (453 programs)
Sample: 23 graduates Limited data

Analysis

Vermont State University's biology graduates earn $39,471 in their first year—substantially above the national median of $32,316 and ranking in the 92nd percentile nationally. That's an impressive outcome for a program at a school with an 83% admission rate, suggesting strong career preparation despite the open-access mission.

The estimated debt of $23,313, based on similar institutions' typical borrowing patterns, appears manageable at first glance with a 0.59 debt-to-earnings ratio. However, context matters: this places graduates slightly below Vermont's state median for biology programs and trails the state's flagship institutions by several thousand dollars in first-year earnings. While VSU graduates outperform most biology programs nationally, they're in the middle of the pack locally, where the job market and cost of living are the same.

For families weighing this option, the strong national showing indicates VSU delivers real value in biology education. The key question is whether the specific career support and lab opportunities here justify choosing it over Vermont's other biology programs, particularly if financial aid packages are comparable. Given the estimated debt figure and middling state ranking, visiting campus to assess research opportunities and alumni outcomes would be particularly worthwhile before committing.

Where Vermont State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all biology bachelors's programs nationally

Vermont State University (estimated ±10%)Other biology programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Vermont State University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Vermont State University earns $39k — 92th percentile among biology bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Vermont

Biology bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Vermont (6 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Vermont State UniversityRandolph$11,400$39,471—$23,313*—
University of VermontBurlington$18,890$36,491$58,369$23,917*0.66
Saint Michael's CollegeColchester$50,040$36,327$51,536$27,000*0.74
Middlebury CollegeMiddlebury$65,280$34,891—$13,648*0.39
National Median—$32,316—$25,000*0.77
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with biology graduates

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Research Coordinators

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Water Resource Specialists

Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists

Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. Engage in clinical investigation, research and development, or other related activities.

$100,590/yrJobs growth:Doctoral or professional degree

Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in biological sciences. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Forensic Science Technicians

Collect, identify, classify, and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations. Perform tests on weapons or substances, such as fiber, hair, and tissue to determine significance to investigation. May testify as expert witnesses on evidence or crime laboratory techniques. May serve as specialists in area of expertise, such as ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, or biochemistry.

$67,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

$64,580/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biological Technicians

Assist biological and medical scientists. Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, monitor experiments, collect data and samples, make observations, and calculate and record results. May analyze organic substances, such as blood, food, and drugs.

$52,000/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Agricultural Technicians

Work with agricultural scientists in plant, fiber, and animal research, or assist with animal breeding and nutrition. Set up or maintain laboratory equipment and collect samples from crops or animals. Prepare specimens or record data to assist scientists in biology or related life science experiments. Conduct tests and experiments to improve yield and quality of crops or to increase the resistance of plants and animals to disease or insects.

$48,480/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Precision Agriculture Technicians

Apply geospatial technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS), to agricultural production or management activities, such as pest scouting, site-specific pesticide application, yield mapping, or variable-rate irrigation. May use computers to develop or analyze maps or remote sensing images to compare physical topography with data on soils, fertilizer, pests, or weather.

$48,480/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Food Science Technicians

Work with food scientists or technologists to perform standardized qualitative and quantitative tests to determine physical or chemical properties of food or beverage products. Includes technicians who assist in research and development of production technology, quality control, packaging, processing, and use of foods.

$48,480/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Biological Scientists, All Other

All biological scientists not listed separately.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Vermont State University, approximately 31% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.