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Microbiological Sciences and Immunology Degree

57 schools compared · Average earnings $38,185/yr

Students study bacteria, viruses, fungi, and the human immune system, including infectious disease mechanisms, vaccine development, and microbial genetics. Graduates typically pursue careers in public health agencies, vaccine development companies, clinical microbiology labs, food safety, and biodefense research. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical importance of microbiologists and immunologists, driving increased funding and career opportunities.

What Microbiological Sciences and Immunology Graduates Do

Your degree in microbiological sciences and immunology opens doors to the lab, the clinic, and the classroom. Many graduates begin as biological technicians, meticulously preparing cell cultures, running assays, and maintaining lab equipment. With an advanced degree, you could become a medical scientist, spending your days designing experiments to understand disease, analyzing complex data, and writing grant proposals to fund your next discovery.

Alternatively, you can pivot into leadership. As a medical and health services manager, you’ll trade your lab coat for spreadsheets, overseeing department budgets, staffing, and regulatory compliance. This management path, along with postsecondary teaching, is seeing the fastest job growth, while some traditional lab science roles face more competition. AI will be a significant partner in your work, automating routine tasks like data analysis and literature review. The jobs aren't disappearing, but your daily focus will change substantially. Your value will shift to interpreting AI-generated insights and leading novel research projects.

Schools Offering

Avg Grad Earnings

$38,185/yr

Avg DegreeOutlook Score

52/100

AI Automation Risk

High

51% task exposure

Common Career Paths

Where Microbiological Sciences and Immunology graduates typically work, ranked by salary. Salary ranges show 25th–75th percentile spread. This field has roughly 132,600 combined openings per year.

Career Path	Salary Range	Openings/yr	Growth	AI Risk
Natural sciences managers	$161,180 $114K$215K	8,500	+3.7%	50%
Medical and health services managers	$117,960 $89K$162K	62,100	+23.2%	43%
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary	$105,620 $74K$176K	27,400	+17.3%	48%
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists	$100,590 $77K$134K	9,600	+8.7%	52%
Biological scientists, all other	$93,330 $68K$121K	4,800	+1.2%	49%
Microbiologists	$87,330 $64K$121K	1,700	+4.1%	40%
Epidemiologists	$83,980 $68K$106K	800	+16.2%	44%
Biological science teachers, postsecondary	$83,460 $64K$125K	5,400	+7.3%	47%
Biological technicians	$52,000 $45K–$66K	9,100	+3.5%	42%
Food science technicians	$49,430 $44K–$61K	3,200	+4.8%	36%

Natural sciences managers

$161,180

$114K $215K

8,500 openings/yr +3.7% growth 50% AI risk

Medical and health services managers

$117,960

$89K $162K

62,100 openings/yr +23.2% growth 43% AI risk

Health specialties teachers, postsecondary

$105,620

$74K $176K

27,400 openings/yr +17.3% growth 48% AI risk

Medical scientists, except epidemiologists

$100,590

$77K $134K

9,600 openings/yr +8.7% growth 52% AI risk

Biological scientists, all other

$93,330

$68K $121K

4,800 openings/yr +1.2% growth 49% AI risk

Microbiologists

$87,330

$64K $121K

1,700 openings/yr +4.1% growth 40% AI risk

Epidemiologists

$83,980

$68K $106K

800 openings/yr +16.2% growth 44% AI risk

Biological science teachers, postsecondary

$83,460

$64K $125K

5,400 openings/yr +7.3% growth 47% AI risk

Biological technicians

$52,000

$45K–$66K

9,100 openings/yr +3.5% growth 42% AI risk

Food science technicians

$49,430

$44K–$61K

3,200 openings/yr +4.8% growth 36% AI risk

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).

Best Schools for Microbiological Sciences and Immunology

Top 20 of 57 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.

#	School	DW Score	Earnings	ROI
1	San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA	74 70–74	$56,071/yr	28.6x
2	California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA	69 65–69	$48,631/yr	24.3x
3	California State University-Northridge Northridge, CA	68 64–68	$46,489/yr	24.4x
4	California State University-Chico Chico, CA	66 62–67	$49,068/yr	18.9x
5	University of California-Davis Davis, CA	66 62–66	$46,005/yr	13.8x
6	University of Wisconsin-La Crosse La Crosse, WI	65 60–65	$54,290/yr	14.6x
7	University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI	64 59–64	$49,186/yr	13.5x
8	Weber State University Ogden, UT	63 61–63	$41,079/yr	24.5x
9	Washington State University Pullman, WA	61 58–62	$43,736/yr	12.8x
10	University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA	59 55–59	$47,331/yr	9.0x
11	North Dakota State University-Main Campus Fargo, ND	59 57–60	$40,262/yr	14.7x
12	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA	58 53–58	$55,807/yr	11.6x
13	Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ	58 56–58	$39,521/yr	13.4x
14	University of Georgia Athens, GA	57 56–57	$37,864/yr	14.4x
15	Montana State University Bozeman, MT	57 56–58	$37,181/yr	18.6x
16	Oregon State University-Cascades Campus Bend, OR	56 55–56	$37,610/yr	13.0x
17	Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ	56 55–56	$37,375/yr	13.1x
18	University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA	56 56–57	$36,403/yr	13.2x
19	Colorado State University-Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO	55 54–56	$39,701/yr	11.6x
20	Iowa State University Ames, IA	55 54–56	$39,019/yr	13.5x
21	Oregon State University Corvallis, OR	55 54–56	$37,610/yr	12.1x
22	San Diego State University San Diego, CA	54 51–55	$45,360/yr	12.7x
23	The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TX	54 52–54	$40,101/yr	11.5x
24	University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Norman, OK	54 54–54	$34,451/yr	16.1x
25	Texas State University San Marcos, TX	53 53–54	$37,663/yr	12.6x
26	Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH	53 53–54	$37,592/yr	11.7x
27	Brigham Young University Provo, UT	53 55–54	$31,833/yr	23.7x
28	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA	52 48–52	$50,706/yr	7.5x
29	North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC	52 49–52	$43,761/yr	11.3x
30	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA	52 52–52	$34,669/yr	12.5x
31	University of South Florida Tampa, FL	52 53–53	$32,135/yr	22.3x
32	University of Arizona Tucson, AZ	51 49–52	$42,433/yr	9.0x
33	California State University-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA	50 49–51	$39,266/yr	13.4x
34	University of Florida-Online Gainesville, FL	50 52–51	$27,994/yr	38.0x
35	University of Kansas Lawrence, KS	49 46–50	$43,734/yr	8.3x
36	Michigan State University East Lansing, MI	49 48–50	$38,726/yr	8.5x
37	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN	49 48–50	$37,068/yr	8.6x
38	University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE	48 45–48	$40,792/yr	9.1x
39	University of Nevada-Reno Reno, NV	48 46–48	$39,752/yr	10.0x
40	Clemson University Clemson, SC	48 50–49	$30,265/yr	11.5x
41	University of Florida Gainesville, FL	48 50–49	$27,994/yr	22.7x
42	Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX	48 50–49	$27,445/yr	15.1x
43	University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA	47 44–48	$43,608/yr	6.1x
44	University of California-Riverside Riverside, CA	47 44–48	$43,086/yr	6.6x
45	University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA	47 44–47	$42,634/yr	6.1x
46	Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Stillwater, OK	44 43–45	$38,040/yr	8.3x
47	New Mexico State University-Main Campus Las Cruces, NM	44 44–45	$36,198/yr	10.1x
48	The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, TX	44 44–45	$22,069/yr	15.3x
49	University of Idaho Moscow, ID	43 43–44	$36,118/yr	9.2x
50	Kansas State University Manhattan, KS	41 41–41	$35,523/yr	7.1x
51	University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Mayaguez, PR	40 40–40	$22,932/yr	20.1x
52	University of Puerto Rico-Humacao Humacao, PR	39 40–40	$26,961/yr	18.1x
53	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA	36 37–37	$34,279/yr	3.0x
54	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI	34 36–35	$32,022/yr	3.6x
55	University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo Arecibo, PR	33 31–33	$15,654/yr	14.2x
56	The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TX	32 33–33	$26,218/yr	6.3x
57	University of Miami Coral Gables, FL	26 25–27	$17,200/yr	1.9x

Highest Earning Microbiological Sciences and Immunology Programs

Schools where Microbiological Sciences and Immunology graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School	1-Year Earnings	DW Score
San Francisco State University	$56,071/yr	74
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo	$55,807/yr	58
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse	$54,290/yr	65
University of California-Berkeley	$50,706/yr	52
University of Wisconsin-Madison	$49,186/yr	64
California State University-Chico	$49,068/yr	66
California State University-Long Beach	$48,631/yr	69
University of Massachusetts-Amherst	$47,331/yr	59
California State University-Northridge	$46,489/yr	68
University of California-Davis	$46,005/yr	66

Best ROI for Microbiological Sciences and Immunology

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Microbiological Sciences and Immunology.

School	ROI Multiple	Earnings	DW Score
University of Florida-Online	38.0x	$27,994/yr	50
San Francisco State University	28.6x	$56,071/yr	74
Weber State University	24.5x	$41,079/yr	63
California State University-Northridge	24.4x	$46,489/yr	68
California State University-Long Beach	24.3x	$48,631/yr	69
Brigham Young University	23.7x	$31,833/yr	53
University of Florida	22.7x	$27,994/yr	48
University of South Florida	22.3x	$32,135/yr	52
University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez	20.1x	$22,932/yr	40
California State University-Chico	18.9x	$49,068/yr	66

Want to compare two Microbiological Sciences and Immunology programs side by side? Use the comparison tool →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Microbiological Sciences and Immunology graduates earn?

Across 57 schools, Microbiological Sciences and Immunology graduates earn an average of $38,185 per year in their first year after graduation. Earnings range from $15,654 to $56,071 depending on the school.

What is the AI automation risk for Microbiological Sciences and Immunology?

Microbiological Sciences and Immunology is rated "High" for AI automation risk, with an average of 51% of job tasks exposed to large language models and AI tools. This means most career tasks in this field could be augmented or replaced by AI over the next decade.

Which school has the best Microbiological Sciences and Immunology program?

Based on our DegreeOutlook Score (combining earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and ROI), San Francisco State University ranks #1 for Microbiological Sciences and Immunology with a score of 74/100 and graduate earnings of $56,071/yr.

What's the outlook for a Microbiological Sciences and Immunology degree?

On average, Microbiological Sciences and Immunology graduates earn 13.4x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a strong return on investment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →