Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Biological and Physical Sciences bachelor's degree outcomes at Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, VA · Public · Federal field 3001

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are close to the same-degree benchmark.

$2,504 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
43.9% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−40% · Negative payoff
Price evidence
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

What stays fixed$61,395 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+56%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$36,709$57,252
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
58Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
77Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
108Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$25,204Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

249Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
41Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
121Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
122Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$35,969Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$61,395$25,426 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 15 Parent PLUS borrowers.

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$23,433

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$26,975

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$61,395

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$286/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$23,433Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$38,954Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE92.6%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE63.2%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$36,709Year 1
$61,395Year 4
$57,252Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.6% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$5,116
Estimated loan payment$286
108borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$61,395 vs. $58,891

$2,504 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Natural Sciences Managers$150,570 median wageVA estimate · 1,470 jobs · 11-9121+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePostsecondary Teachers, All Other$84,060 median wageVA estimate · 1,580 jobs · 25-1199+2.0% projected U.S. growth · 12.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$72,170 median wageVA estimate · 31,100 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Indiana, PA

Indiana University of Pennsylvania

$9,633 higher earnings · $556 less debt · $6,629 lower annual net price

Earnings
$71,028
Debt
$26,419
Annual net price
$16,804
View outcomes →
Dunmore, PA

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton

$7,707 higher earnings · $975 less debt · $5,523 lower annual net price

Earnings
$69,102
Debt
$26,000
Annual net price
$17,910
View outcomes →
Middletown, PA

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg

$7,707 higher earnings · $975 less debt · $103 lower annual net price

Earnings
$69,102
Debt
$26,000
Annual net price
$23,330
View outcomes →
Abington, PA

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington

$7,707 higher earnings · $975 less debt · $5,362 lower annual net price

Earnings
$69,102
Debt
$26,000
Annual net price
$18,071
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

77 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

Calculate my payoff →