by our College Data Analytics Team
[General Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/general-biology/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a general biology degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the early-career earnings of their general biology graduates.
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If you want to know which schools send general biology graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Leading the list is Belmont University, our #1 for general biology graduate salaries in Tennessee. Belmont University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from Belmont University typically earn about $63,780 annually.
Freed Hardeman University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general biology schools. Located in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from Freed Hardeman University typically earn about $59,723 annually.
Lincoln Memorial University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general biology schools. Located in the town of Harrogate, Lincoln Memorial University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career general biology graduates from Lincoln Memorial University make a median of around $55,757 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Lipscomb University earned it the #4 place for general biology. Lipscomb University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. General Biology graduates of Lipscomb University earn a median of about $76,487 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Middle Tennessee State University earned it the #5 place for general biology. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a public institution. General Biology graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of about $52,665 a year early in their careers.
Rhodes College earned the #6 position for general biology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Memphis, Rhodes College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,895.
The University Of Tennessee came in at #7 for general biology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a public institution. Early-career general biology graduates from The University Of Tennessee make a median of around $58,414 per year.
University Of Memphis came in at #8 for general biology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a public institution. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from University Of Memphis typically earn about $50,833 annually.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga came in at #9 for general biology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a public institution. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,212.
Tennessee Technological University earned the #10 position for general biology graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a public institution. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from Tennessee Technological University typically earn about $55,612 annually.
East Tennessee State University landed the #11 spot for general biology salaries this year. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a public institution. General Biology graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median of about $50,185 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Tennessee Martin placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for general biology. Located in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a public institution. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee Martin typically earn about $52,114 annually.
Tennessee State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general biology schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a public institution. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $40,944.
Austin Peay State University earned the #14 position for general biology graduate earnings this year. Austin Peay State University is a public school located in the city of Clarksville. Early-career general biology graduates from Austin Peay State University make a median of around $41,531 per year.
Lane College placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for general biology. Lane College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Jackson. General Biology graduates of Lane College earn a median of about $26,754 a year early in their careers.
Sewanee The University Of The South landed the #16 spot for general biology salaries this year. Sewanee The University Of The South is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Sewanee. General Biology graduates of Sewanee The University Of The South earn a median of about $23,932 a year early in their careers.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries general biology graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 16 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.