Home Schools San Diego State Microbiology & Immunology
Biological Sciences · Microbiology & Immunology Rank #22 of 57

Microbiology & Immunologyat San Diego State University

Graduates earn $45,360/yr in their first year — about 19.0% above the national Microbiology & Immunology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $507K; scenarios range from $474K to $507K depending on AI disruption.

San Diego, CA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
54 AVERAGE
55
Optimistic
51
Pessimistic
Earnings
$45,360
1-year post-graduation
ROI
12.7x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$507K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
51% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at San Diego State

First-year earnings of $45,360 at San Diego State University come in 19% above the national median of $38,184 for Microbiology & Immunology programs.

With a 15.3x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 7% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Microbiology & Immunology career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

With first-year pay of $45,360 far exceeding the $15,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #22 ranking among 57 Microbiology & Immunology programs places San Diego State University in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

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
$474K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score51/100
Earnings Multiple14.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$507K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score54/100
Earnings Multiple15.3x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$507K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score55/100
Earnings Multiple15.3x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Career Paths

Where Microbiology & Immunology 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 and health services managers
+23.2% 10-yr growth · 62,100 openings/yr
$117,960/yr
Moderate
3
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
+17.3% 10-yr growth · 27,400 openings/yr
$105,620/yr
Moderate
4
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
+8.7% 10-yr growth · 9,600 openings/yr
$100,590/yr
High
5
Biological scientists, all other
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 4,800 openings/yr
$93,330/yr
Moderate
6
Microbiologists
+4.1% 10-yr growth · 1,700 openings/yr
$87,330/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 Microbiology & Immunology

How San Diego State stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
San Francisco State University
CA · Public
74
DW Score
$56K
1-yr earn
28.6x
ROI
Same state (CA)
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
58
DW Score
$56K
1-yr earn
11.6x
ROI
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
WI · Public
65
DW Score
$54K
1-yr earn
14.6x
ROI
University of California-Berkeley
CA · Public
52
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
7.5x
ROI
University of Wisconsin-Madison
WI · Public
64
DW Score
$49K
1-yr earn
13.5x
ROI
Also at San Diego State

Other top programs at San Diego State

Other highest-scoring programs offered at San Diego State, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Microbiology & Immunology at San Diego State

What does a 54/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Microbiology & Immunology at San Diego State University?

At 54/100, San Diego State University's Microbiology & Immunology program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.

Should I worry about AI if I study Microbiology & Immunology at San Diego State University?

The 45% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.