What can you do with a Biology degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?

First, some facts. Of the Biology graduates from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:

These are estimates based on AI analysis of 18 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 75%, Biology graduates from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University have a higher likelihood (+8%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

×

Also, after graduating, 55% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Biology graduate.

See the details:

• What jobs can you get with a Biology degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?
• What do Biology graduates from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a Biology degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a Biology degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?
• What are the best colleges for Biology?

View a random Biology graduate from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and our analysis:

Relevance score: 100% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2011 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION Middle School Science Teacher Judson ISD Aug 2012 - Jun 2014 As a Middle School Science Teacher, this job directly utilizes knowledge acquired in biology, requiring a strong foundation in scientific concepts for teaching. Science Teacher Franklin Road Academy Aug 2014 - Present The position as a Science Teacher at Franklin Road Academy utilizes biology knowledge and teaching skills acquired during the Bachelor's degree, making it highly relevant. 8th Grade Physical Science Teacher Franklin Road Academy Aug 2014 - Present Teaching 8th Grade Physical Science at Franklin Road Academy requires a solid understanding of scientific principles that align with the biology degree, confirming its relevance. ABOUT No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Biology degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:

• Data Analyst
• Teacher
• Senior Toxicology Specialist
• Graduate Researcher
• Laboratory & Research Specialist I
• Food Microbiologist
• Data Analyst Intern
• Analyst IV
• Senior Consultant
• Assistant Manager

When looking at the job paths of Virginia Tech biology graduates from recent years, you'll find a diverse range of careers, but a significant number of them are closely related to the field of biology. Many graduates have pursued roles in research, particularly within laboratories connected to healthcare or pharmaceuticals, like research assistants and microbiologists. Positions at agencies like the FDA are also common and require a deep understanding of biological principles. Others have navigated into teaching or academic roles, utilizing their biology knowledge to educate future generations of scientists. While some have taken a detour into roles like sales or management, we see that a good chunk of these jobs either directly involve biological concepts or at least provide an environment where biology is applied in various contexts.

Overall, it seems that many biology graduates from Virginia Tech are finding work that is very relevant to their degree. Between jobs in research, microbiology, and education, a solid majority are using the skills and knowledge they gained during their studies. However, there are a few exceptions where graduates ended up in positions that aren't particularly biology-focused, like sales or management roles. Regardless, it's clear that a biology degree opens up many doors, especially in fields where a strong scientific foundation is needed. So, if you’re considering this pathway, know that there are plenty of exciting and relevant career options waiting for you!

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Biology graduates (this is across all Biology graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University):

What kind of career trajectories do Biology graduates from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Graduates with a Biology degree from Virginia Tech seem to follow a pretty diverse range of career paths, with many finding their way into relevant fields in the life sciences, healthcare, and education. Right after graduation, it looks like a lot of them start off in roles like research assistants, laboratory technicians, or teaching positions, which makes sense since those positions allow them to build on the skills they learned during their studies. For instance, many have gone on to work in research roles, especially within government agencies like the FDA, as well as healthcare settings or academic institutions. It's clear that they often land jobs that tie closely back to their Biology degree, which is a positive indication of the degree's applicability in the job market.

As for what they’re doing five to ten years down the line, folks seem to be advancing in their careers, with many moving up to more specialized roles like research scientists, microbiologists, or even educators at universities. It's interesting to note that some have transitioned into consultancy roles or moved into sales for biotech companies, showing a blend of scientific expertise and business acumen. However, not everyone sticks strictly to biology-related fields, as some graduates have ventured into entirely different industries or roles, like teaching or management in non-science areas. Overall, while there are some outliers who may not have stayed in the biology lane, the majority of Virginia Tech Biology grads appear to be successfully leveraging their education into meaningful careers within related fields. This suggests a solid return on investment for the degree and means that if you’re into biology, this school offers some great opportunities to build a fulfilling career!

How hard is a Biology degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Biology at Virginia Tech, like many other schools, can be a mixed bag—it’s definitely not the easiest major out there. You’ll find yourself diving into everything from molecular biology to ecology, and some of those upper-level courses can really push you to think critically and apply what you've learned in labs and research. It's not just about memorizing facts; you’ll need to grasp complex concepts and often deal with challenging lab work. That said, if you’re passionate about the subject and ready to put in the effort, you can totally handle it. Just make sure you stay organized and seek help when you need it—plenty of students have gotten through it successfully!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Biology.

Do Biology graduates from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University tend to make good money?

Looking at the career paths of these Virginia Tech Biology grads, it seems like they've found a mix of decent and not-so-great financial situations. The ones working in research or at the FDA, for instance, are likely raking in a good salary, especially as they're moving up the ladder. On the other hand, some of the teachers and those in earlier roles like lab technicians or entry-level positions might not be earning as much—teaching jobs, for example, generally pay less than science-related research roles. Overall, it looks like a good number of them have landed solid jobs with potential for better pay as they gain experience, but not everyone seems to be cashing in big bucks right away!

What buzzwords do Biology graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Biology (this is across all Biology graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Biology?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Biology (ordered by the average relevance score of their Biology graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College	Score	Count
American University of Beirut	95	10
Luther College	90	11
Rutgers UniversityNew Brunswick	87	11
The College of New Jersey	86	13
Tufts University	86	17
Saint Louis University	86	11
Saint Joseph's University	86	10
Brandeis University	86	14
California State University-Los Angeles	85	12
Temple University	83	20
University of Pittsburgh	82	32
George Mason University	82	31
Boston University	82	12
University of Maryland	82	15
Wake Forest University	82	16
Seton Hall University	82	19
Texas Tech University	81	18
Illinois State University	81	13
Case Western Reserve University	81	12
University of Oregon	80	13
Cornell University	80	38
California State University, Fresno	80	11
University of Maryland Baltimore County	80	25
Washington University in St. Louis	80	13
California State University Channel Islands	80	11
Muhlenberg College	80	11
University of Scranton	80	11
University of Florida	79	67
Northeastern University	79	31
University of Nebraska-Lincoln	79	19
Georgia Institute of Technology	79	11
Boston College	79	23
University of Oklahoma	78	11
University of Alabama	78	16
Carleton College	78	11
University of Missouri-Columbia	77	29
University of Delaware	77	22
University of California, Santa Cruz	77	19
Providence College	77	11
Oberlin College	77	12
Iowa State University	76	17
University of Virginia	76	30
University of Massachusetts Amherst	76	18
Northwestern University	76	11
Kean University	76	13
Loyola University Chicago	76	25
William & Mary	76	19
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley	76	18
Butler University	76	10
The University of Georgia	75	44
UC Irvine	75	56
University of New Hampshire	75	10
Drexel University	75	13
University of Louisiana at Lafayette	75	13
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	75	18
Binghamton University	75	24
The University of New Mexico	75	14
Wright State University	75	13
UC San Diego	75	13
Gustavus Adolphus College	75	10
Grand Valley State University	74	14
Miami University	74	10
University of North Florida	74	17
UC Santa Barbara	74	27
Rutgers University	74	18
Duke University	74	23
St. Olaf College	74	14
The University of Texas-Pan American	74	10
Davidson College	74	17
Ohio University	73	14
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo	73	18
Towson University	73	14
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	73	60
The University of Texas at San Antonio	73	28
University of North Carolina at Charlotte	73	23
University of Illinois at Chicago	73	32
University of California San Diego	73	11
Stockton University	73	16
University of St. Thomas	73	12
University of Portland	73	15
University of Houston	72	39
San Diego State University	72	16
East Carolina University	72	22
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	72	20
Syracuse University	72	13
Wayne State University	72	20
University of Miami	72	15
University of Massachusetts Lowell	72	12
University at Albany, SUNY	72	12
Hunter College	72	10
University of San Francisco	72	10
University of Missouri-Kansas City	72	12
SUNY Oneonta	72	11
Fairleigh Dickinson University	72	15
Florida State University	71	54
James Madison University	71	40
California State University-Sacramento	71	13
University of Cincinnati	71	24
Oklahoma State University	71	15
West Virginia University	71	19
The University of Alabama	71	16
University of Vermont	71	17
University of Notre Dame	71	10
University of North Carolina at Wilmington	71	26
University of California, Irvine	71	38
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse	71	12
University of Nevada, Reno	71	15
University of Maine	71	14
University of San Diego	71	11
Williams College	71	12
Indiana University Bloomington	70	31
University of Arkansas	70	25
University of Nevada-Las Vegas	70	12
University of North Carolina at Greensboro	70	26
Radford University	70	10
University of Washington Bothell	70	11
University of Wisconsin-Madison	69	54
Virginia Tech	69	16
The University of Texas at Dallas	69	32
Montclair State University	69	17
Rowan University	69	19
University of California, Santa Barbara	69	18
Texas Christian University	69	14
SUNY Geneseo	69	13
Texas A&M University	68	44
University of Utah	68	18
Mississippi State University	68	14
California State University San Marcos	68	11
Salisbury University	68	13
Valdosta State University	68	15
Xavier University	68	11
Smith College	68	10
Willamette University	68	13
The Ohio State University	67	49
University of California, Los Angeles	67	46
Kent State University	67	10
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona	67	14
University of California, Riverside	67	59
Kennesaw State University	67	21
University at Buffalo	67	22
University of Minnesota	67	12
Boise State University	67	10
Metropolitan State University of Denver	67	15
Villanova University	67	14
Stanford University	67	11
Campbell University	67	12
Pacific Lutheran University	67	13
University of Michigan	66	14
Clemson University	66	37
University of Iowa	66	10
University of South Carolina	66	23
Nova Southeastern University	66	26
University of Georgia - Franklin College of Arts and Sciences	66	24
State University of New York College at Geneseo	66	15
The University of Texas at Austin	65	49
University of North Texas	65	43
Georgia State University	65	39
University of Connecticut	65	22
College of Charleston	65	18
University of Pennsylvania	65	10
Brown University	65	10
University of North Carolina Wilmington	65	10
University of Illinois Chicago	65	17
Florida Atlantic University	64	44
Northern Arizona University	64	17
Ball State University	64	18
The University of Akron	64	10
University of Alabama at Birmingham	64	16
Emory University	64	18
Truman State University	64	12
Penn State University	63	39
Arizona State University	63	49
Colorado State University	63	29
University of Rhode Island	63	20
University of West Georgia	63	12
Jackson State University	63	13
University of Washington	62	51
Florida International University	62	59
Louisiana State University	62	33
Baylor University	62	29
North Carolina State University	61	28
Virginia Commonwealth University	61	49
Loyola Marymount University	61	12
St. Mary's College of Maryland	61	13
University of California, Davis	60	45
The University of Texas at Arlington	60	41
St. John's University	60	25
Texas State University	59	19
University of Mississippi	59	16
Marshall University	59	10
Purdue University	58	13
New York University	58	13
University of Kentucky	58	26
Old Dominion University	58	21
University of Colorado Denver	58	26
Texas Woman's University	58	14
Dillard University	58	10
San Francisco State University	57	10
Washington State University	57	18
Georgia Southern University	57	25
University of Central Florida	56	34
University of South Florida	56	12
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga	56	11
Howard University	56	27
Randolph-Macon College	56	10
Northern Illinois University	55	16
Grand Canyon University	54	14
Bowling Green State University	54	11
University of Hawaii at Manoa	54	16
University of Southern California	53	15
Central Connecticut State University	53	12
Oregon State University	52	13
Oakland University	52	18
University of Nebraska at Omaha	52	11
Christopher Newport University	52	11
San Diego State University-California State University	51	15
University of California, San Diego	51	21
New Mexico State University	51	13
Winthrop University	51	10
Eckerd College	50	10
Saint Peter's University	50	10
Stony Brook University	48	24
Texas Southern University	48	10
Francis Marion University	48	11
The Citadel	47	10
Spelman College	47	12
Southeastern Louisiana University	42	10
University of Louisville	37	11