Biology at Virginia Military Institute

Lexington, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
54 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
55
Optimistic
54
Base Case
51
Pessimistic
Earnings $43,797/yr (36% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 8.4x earnings multiple (3.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #36 of 822 Biology, General programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Biology graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $706K $692K $618K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.6x 8.4x 7.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.4x 3.4x 3.0x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 55 54 51

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$81,936
Out-of-state: $204,744 (3.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$75,396
8% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,250
5.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$79,095
81% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $43,797 put Virginia Military Institute's Biology program 36% above the national median of $32,219 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.4x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Biology's typical career paths, with 40% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 12% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $43,797 far exceeding the $21,250 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #36 of 822 nationally, this is a top-5% Biology program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $79,095 show a 81% jump from the $43,797 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Virginia Military Institute

Virginia Military Institute accepts 82% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 1,560 in Lexington, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Military Institute →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists $100,590/yr
Biological scientists, all other $93,330/yr
View all 10 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Biology at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biology at Virginia Military Institute?
A score of 54/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Biology field.
Will AI replace Biology careers?
With 40% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $618,134 in decade earnings vs $705,896 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Virginia Military Institute's Biology program stand out?
Ranked #36 of 822 programs nationally, Virginia Military Institute lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →