Home Schools University of Massachusetts-Amherst Microbiology & Immunology
Biological Sciences · Microbiology & Immunology Rank #10 of 57

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.

Amherst, MA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
59 SOLID
59
Optimistic
55
Pessimistic
Earnings
$47,331
1-year post-graduation
ROI
9.0x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$627K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
51% task exposure
Program Analysis

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.

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
$560K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score55/100
Earnings Multiple8.1x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$627K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score59/100
Earnings Multiple9.0x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$632K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score59/100
Earnings Multiple9.1x
Earnings Trajectory

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.

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 Massachusetts-Amherst 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 Massachusetts-Amherst

Other top programs at University of Massachusetts-Amherst

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

FAQ

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.