Biology at Virginia Wesleyan University

Virginia Wesleyan's biology program produces first-year earnings of $30,921—below both the state median ($32,457) and national average ($32,316). Among Virginia's 38 biology programs, this ranks in just the 40th percentile, meaning six out of ten biology programs statewide deliver better initial outcomes. Compare this to Virginia Military Institute's biology grads earning $43,797, or even mid-tier programs like Roanoke College at $37,458—the earnings gap is substantial.

The debt burden of $26,625 creates an 0.86 debt-to-earnings ratio, which technically stays under the 1.0 threshold that signals financial stress. However, with earnings below $31,000, graduates face tight budgets even with manageable debt loads. The combination of below-average earnings and moderate debt doesn't position graduates particularly well for either immediate financial stability or pursuing graduate school (which many biology majors need for career advancement).

An important caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances heavily influence these numbers. That said, the pattern is consistent—below-average earnings both statewide and nationally suggest this program isn't delivering competitive outcomes. For families considering this investment, understand that Virginia offers biology programs with significantly stronger earnings trajectories at similar or lower costs. Unless there's a compelling non-financial reason to attend Virginia Wesleyan, exploring alternatives would be prudent.