Microbiology & Immunologyat University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Graduates earn $47,331/yr in their first year — about 24.0% above the national Microbiology & Immunology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $627K; scenarios range from $560K to $632K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Massachusetts-Amherst
The strong performance of UMass Amherst's Microbiological Sciences and Immunology program reflects its robust curriculum and the fertile ground of the Massachusetts biotech ecosystem. While Amherst itself isn't a major industry hub, your degree from a flagship public university here provides a direct pipeline to the thriving pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies concentrated around Boston and Cambridge. You’ll be well-prepared for roles in research and development, quality control, or diagnostics within these innovative firms, or in public health and academic research labs.
The noted high AI risk for this field points to the evolving nature of scientific work. Many routine lab tasks and data analysis processes are increasingly being augmented by AI. To thrive, focus your studies on developing critical experimental design skills, advanced data interpretation, and complex problem-solving abilities. These higher-order skills are precisely what employers seek for leadership and management roles, allowing you to effectively leverage AI tools rather than be replaced by them.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Massachusetts-Amherst's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Microbiology & Immunology
How University of Massachusetts-Amherst stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Massachusetts-Amherst, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Microbiology & Immunology at University of Massachusetts-Amherst
How does University of Massachusetts-Amherst's Microbiology & Immunology program score?
This program scores 59/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Microbiology & Immunology graduates.
How vulnerable is Microbiology & Immunology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Microbiology & Immunology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 45% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does University of Massachusetts-Amherst rank so high for Microbiology & Immunology?
The #10 ranking out of 57 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.