by our College Data Analytics Team
[General Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/general-biology/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a general biology degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 27 schools to find where general biology graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send general biology graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in general biology, no school beat Virginia Military Institute this year. Set in the town of Lexington, Virginia Military Institute is a public institution. General Biology graduates of Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $79,095 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in general biology will find them at Shenandoah University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,660.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Richmond earned it the #3 place for general biology. University Of Richmond is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of University of Richmond. General Biology graduates of University Of Richmond earn a median of about $67,736 a year early in their careers.
Hampden Sydney College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in general biology, landing the #4 spot this year. Hampden Sydney College is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hampden-Sydney. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,350.
Strong graduate earnings at George Mason University earned it the #5 place for general biology. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a public institution. Early-career general biology graduates from George Mason University make a median of around $68,233 per year.
Roanoke College placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for general biology. Roanoke College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Salem. Early-career general biology graduates from Roanoke College make a median of around $62,009 per year.
University Of Mary Washington ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general biology schools. University Of Mary Washington is a public school located in the suburb of Fredericksburg. Early-career general biology graduates from University Of Mary Washington make a median of around $62,967 per year.
College Of William And Mary placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for general biology. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a public institution. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from College Of William And Mary typically earn about $69,010 annually.
Emory And Henry College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general biology schools. Located in the rural area of Emory, Emory And Henry College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,484.
Randolph Macon College came in at #10 for general biology graduate earnings this year. Randolph Macon College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ashland. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,791.
James Madison University earned the #11 position for general biology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a public institution. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from James Madison University typically earn about $60,841 annually.
Marymount University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general biology schools. Set in the city of Arlington, Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career general biology graduates from Marymount University make a median of around $62,548 per year.
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #13 for general biology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,092.
Mary Baldwin College landed the #14 spot for general biology salaries this year. Mary Baldwin College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Staunton. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $43,402.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general biology schools. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. General Biology graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of about $63,097 a year early in their careers.
Longwood University landed the #16 spot for general biology salaries this year. Located in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a public institution. Early-career general biology graduates from Longwood University make a median of around $54,876 per year.
Radford University earned the #17 position for general biology graduate earnings this year. Radford University is a public school located in the town of Radford. Early-career general biology graduates from Radford University make a median of around $56,032 per year.
Christopher Newport University came in at #18 for general biology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Newport News, Christopher Newport University is a public institution. Early-career general biology graduates from Christopher Newport University make a median of around $59,142 per year.
Bridgewater College placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for general biology. Bridgewater College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bridgewater. Early-career general biology graduates from Bridgewater College make a median of around $51,398 per year.
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #20 for general biology graduate earnings this year. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. General Biology graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of about $67,974 a year early in their careers.
Virginia Wesleyan College placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for general biology. Virginia Wesleyan College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from Virginia Wesleyan College typically earn about $56,522 annually.
Old Dominion University came in at #22 for general biology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a public institution. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,794.
Hampton University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general biology schools. Hampton University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hampton. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from Hampton University typically earn about $51,602 annually.
Liberty University earned the #24 position for general biology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. General Biology graduates of Liberty University earn a median of about $57,875 a year early in their careers.
Virginia Union University landed the #25 spot for general biology salaries this year. Virginia Union University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Richmond. General Biology graduates of Virginia Union University earn a median of about $43,899 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid general biology ranking:
This list is compiled 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 · 27 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.