Best Online Biology Programs in Waynesboro, VA (2026)

Waynesboro, Virginia has 5 accredited schools offering biology programs, with tuition ranging from $16,090 to $58,702 per year for indexed programs. Waynesboro has a population of about 22,574. Median household income is $56,364 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 26.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Virginia, the top-earning biology-related role is Medical Scientist at a median $93,620 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Biology Schools to Waynesboro

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer biology programs near Waynesboro, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Waynesboro city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Waynesboro. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Mary Baldwin University

Staunton, VA 11.0 miles from Waynesboro BOC Score 47.6
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 56%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $44,427
Avg net price $12,756/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 64%
  • Programs offered: 15

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Bridgewater College

Bridgewater, VA 21.7 miles from Waynesboro BOC Score 58.8
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 92%
Graduation rate 51%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $53,453
Avg net price $17,800/yr
Tuition
In‑state$16,090
Out‑of‑state$16,090
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 8

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

University of Virginia-Main Campus

Charlottesville, VA 21.8 miles from Waynesboro BOC Score 86.2
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 94%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $86,863
Avg net price $21,565/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 97%
  • Programs offered: 42

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA 25.4 miles from Waynesboro BOC Score 77.9
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 82%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $69,954
Avg net price $23,322/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 91%
  • Programs offered: 34

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Eastern Mennonite University

Harrisonburg, VA 27.9 miles from Waynesboro BOC Score 56.8
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 66%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $54,869
Avg net price $24,588/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 20

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Southern Virginia University

Buena Vista, VA 32.8 miles from Waynesboro BOC Score 34.9
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 48%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $50,002
Avg net price $22,213/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 3

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Virginia Military Institute

Lexington, VA 35.0 miles from Waynesboro BOC Score 71.1
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 77%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $77,369
Avg net price $17,113/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 82%
  • Programs offered: 2

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Washington and Lee University

Lexington, VA 35.4 miles from Waynesboro BOC Score 74.8
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 94%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $94,810
Avg net price $23,781/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 96%
  • Programs offered: 5

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Virginia schools on the Virginia biology page.


Biology Wages Near Waynesboro

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Virginia, statewide)
Medical Scientist$93,620
Biological Technician$53,360
Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist$72,340
Soil and Plant Scientist$73,920

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.


Waynesboro at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population22,574Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$56,364Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+26.3%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)91.1 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Waynesboro-Area Cities With Biology Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited biology schools are near Waynesboro, VA?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering biology programs near Waynesboro. The closest is Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, VA (11.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Eastern Mennonite University (27.9 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying biology roles in Virginia?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying biology-related roles in Virginia are: Medical Scientist ($93,620), Soil and Plant Scientist ($73,920), Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist ($72,340). Wages for Waynesboro workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Staunton instead of Waynesboro?

Staunton, VA is 10.8 miles from Waynesboro and has its own set of local biology programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Waynesboro an affordable place to study biology?

Waynesboro’s median household income of $56,364 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Waynesboro while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Virginia public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.


Learn More About Biology Programs

Other Programs Available in Waynesboro

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Waynesboro:

Data verified: July 30, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.