Home Schools University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo Microbiology & Immunology
Biological Sciences · Microbiology & Immunology Rank #55 of 57

Microbiology & Immunologyat University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo

Graduates earn $15,654/yr in their first year — about 59.0% below the national Microbiology & Immunology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $448K; scenarios range from $432K to $446K depending on AI disruption.

Arecibo, PR Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
33 AT RISK
33
Optimistic
31
Pessimistic
Earnings
$15,654
1-year post-graduation
ROI
14.2x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$448K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
51% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo

The outcomes for Microbiological Sciences and Immunology from UPR-Arecibo reflect a challenging regional labor market for specialized scientific fields. While Puerto Rico has some pharmaceutical and biotech presence, the *demand* for bachelor's level microbiologists often doesn't match the supply, especially in Arecibo. Many graduates find entry-level roles in labs or quality control, which may not offer high starting salaries or rapid advancement without further education. The listed high-paying careers typically require advanced degrees (Master's, PhD, or MD) and significant experience, making them less common for initial bachelor's graduates. Furthermore, the high AI risk indicates many foundational lab tasks are increasingly automated, narrowing entry points. If this field deeply interests you, plan strategically: pursue internships aggressively to build practical skills, network within the limited local industry, and seriously consider graduate studies or a willingness to relocate to more robust biotech hubs immediately after graduation to unlock better prospects.

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
$432K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score31/100
Earnings Multiple20.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$448K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score33/100
Earnings Multiple21.0x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$446K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score33/100
Earnings Multiple20.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

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Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Microbiology & Immunology at University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo

How does University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo's Microbiology & Immunology program score?

This program scores 33/100 — on the lower end for Microbiology & Immunology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

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 are Microbiology & Immunology earnings lower at University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo?

Lower starting pay at University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.