Home Schools University of Kansas Microbiology & Immunology
Biological Sciences · Microbiology & Immunology Rank #35 of 57

Microbiology & Immunologyat University of Kansas

Graduates earn $43,734/yr in their first year — about 15.0% above the national Microbiology & Immunology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $497K; scenarios range from $467K to $497K depending on AI disruption.

Lawrence, KS Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
49 AVERAGE
50
Optimistic
46
Pessimistic
Earnings
$43,734
1-year post-graduation
ROI
8.3x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$497K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
51% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Kansas

First-year earnings of $43,734 at University of Kansas come in 15% above the national median of $38,184 for Microbiology & Immunology programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Microbiology & Immunology programs nationally.

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 6% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $43,734 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #35 of 57 Microbiology & Immunology programs, University of Kansas falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

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
$467K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score46/100
Earnings Multiple10.0x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$497K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score49/100
Earnings Multiple10.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$497K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score50/100
Earnings Multiple10.6x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Other top programs at University of Kansas

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

FAQ

Frequently asked about Microbiology & Immunology at University of Kansas

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

A score of 49/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Microbiology & Immunology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

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 $467,255 in decade earnings vs $497,297 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.