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Microbiological Sciences and Immunology at University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
47 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
47
Optimistic
47
Base Case
44
Pessimistic
Earnings $42,634/yr (12% vs median)
AI Risk High (45% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (132,600 openings/yr)
ROI 8.2x earnings multiple (2.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #45 of 57 Microbiological Sciences and Immunology programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Microbiological Sciences and Immunology graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $491K $491K $463K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.2x 8.2x 7.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 2.7x 2.7x 2.5x
Probability of Field Employment 53% 51% 36%
DegreeOutlook Score 47 47 44

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$59,860
Out-of-state: $182,968 (2.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$55,300
8% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,500
4.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$55,657
31% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $42,634/yr, edging above the $38,184 national average for Microbiological Sciences and Immunology — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.2x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Microbiological Sciences and Immunology's typical career paths, with 45% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.

At $16,500 in median debt against $42,634 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #45 of 57 Microbiological Sciences and Immunology programs, University of California-Santa Barbara falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About University of California-Santa Barbara

University of California-Santa Barbara admits 28% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, serving a student body of 23,205 in Santa Barbara, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Santa Barbara →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Medical and health services managers $117,960/yr
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620/yr
View all 10 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 57 schools offering Microbiological Sciences and Immunology →

Microbiological Sciences and Immunology at Other Schools

San Francisco State University ($56,071) California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($55,807) University of Wisconsin-La Crosse ($54,290) University of California-Berkeley ($50,706) University of Wisconsin-Madison ($49,186) California State University-Chico ($49,068) California State University-Long Beach ($48,631) University of Massachusetts-Amherst ($47,331)

Other Majors at University of California-Santa Barbara

Computer Science ($107,776) Computer Engineering ($91,387) Mechanical Engineering ($81,108) Chemical Engineering ($79,737) Economics ($66,334) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($66,099) Applied Mathematics ($59,638) Statistics ($55,110)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Microbiological Sciences and Immunology at University of California-Santa Barbara?
A score of 47/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Microbiological Sciences and Immunology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Microbiological Sciences and Immunology careers?
With 45% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $462,668 in decade earnings vs $490,630 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →