Home Schools University of Arizona Microbiology & Immunology
Biological Sciences · Microbiology & Immunology Rank #32 of 57

Microbiology & Immunologyat University of Arizona

Graduates earn $42,433/yr in their first year — about 11.0% above the national Microbiology & Immunology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $534K; scenarios range from $494K to $536K depending on AI disruption.

Tucson, AZ Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
51 AVERAGE
52
Optimistic
49
Pessimistic
Earnings
$42,433
1-year post-graduation
ROI
9.0x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$534K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
51% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Arizona

First-year earnings of $42,433 at University of Arizona come in 11% above the national median of $38,184 for Microbiology & Immunology programs.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.8x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Microbiology & Immunology's typical career paths, with 45% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $42,433 far exceeding the $20,005 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #32 of 57 Microbiology & Immunology programs, University of Arizona falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $42,433 to $54,765 over five years — a 29% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

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
$494K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score49/100
Earnings Multiple9.1x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$534K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score51/100
Earnings Multiple9.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$536K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score52/100
Earnings Multiple9.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Arizona'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 University of Arizona 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
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 University of Arizona

Other top programs at University of Arizona

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Arizona, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Microbiology & Immunology at University of Arizona

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Microbiology & Immunology at University of Arizona?

This program scores 51/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Microbiology & Immunology programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

Will AI replace Microbiology & Immunology careers?

With 45% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $494,036 in decade earnings vs $536,186 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.