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Biological Sciences · Biology Rank #36 of 822

Biologyat Virginia Military Institute

Graduates earn $43,797/yr in their first year — about 36.0% above the national Biology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $692K; scenarios range from $618K to $706K depending on AI disruption.

Lexington, VA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
54 AVERAGE
55
Optimistic
51
Pessimistic
Earnings
$43,797
1-year post-graduation
ROI
8.7x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$692K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
45% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Virginia Military Institute

Your VMI Biology degree carries significant weight beyond just scientific acumen. The institute's rigorous military-style education instills unparalleled discipline, leadership, and problem-solving skills, which are highly sought after in competitive fields. This isn't a typical biology program; it's a leadership incubator, pushing graduates into management tracks within scientific research, healthcare administration, or even specialized government roles. The robust VMI alumni network actively supports graduates, often opening doors to positions at major research institutions or medical device companies that specifically value the VMI profile. Many also pursue advanced degrees, excelling in demanding professional schools due to their preparation. To maximize your outcome, actively engage with VMI's leadership development programs and leverage the alumni network for mentorship and specialized internship opportunities early in your academic journey.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$618K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score51/100
Earnings Multiple7.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$692K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score54/100
Earnings Multiple8.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$706K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score55/100
Earnings Multiple8.6x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Virginia Military Institute's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Biology graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Natural sciences managers
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$161,180/yr
High
2
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
+8.7% 10-yr growth · 9,600 openings/yr
$100,590/yr
High
3
Biological scientists, all other
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 4,800 openings/yr
$93,330/yr
Moderate
4
Life scientists, all other
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 400 openings/yr
$87,800/yr
Low
5
Biological science teachers, postsecondary
+7.3% 10-yr growth · 5,400 openings/yr
$83,460/yr
Moderate
6
Forensic science technicians
+12.8% 10-yr growth · 2,900 openings/yr
$67,440/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Biology

How Virginia Military Institute stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of San Diego
CA · Private nonprofit
45
DW Score
$54K
1-yr earn
2.1x
ROI
Trinity College
CT · Private nonprofit
42
DW Score
$52K
1-yr earn
0.9x
ROI
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
MA · Private nonprofit
50
DW Score
$52K
1-yr earn
2.5x
ROI
Edgewood College
WI · Private nonprofit
45
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
3.1x
ROI
Top score
Shepherd University
WV · Public
59
DW Score
$49K
1-yr earn
15.8x
ROI
Also at Virginia Military Institute

Other top programs at Virginia Military Institute

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Virginia Military Institute, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Biology offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Biology trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Biology at Virginia Military Institute

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.