Microbiology & Immunologyat University of Wisconsin-Madison
Graduates earn $49,186/yr in their first year — about 29.0% above the national Microbiology & Immunology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $592K; scenarios range from $535K to $596K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UW-Madison
Your strong outcomes in Microbiological Sciences and Immunology from UW-Madison reflect its standing as a top-tier public research institution. The rigorous curriculum and extensive research opportunities prepare you exceptionally well for careers in a dynamic field. This program excels at placing graduates into research and development roles within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and food science industries, particularly across the Midwest and increasingly nationally.
Your deep scientific understanding is highly valued in these sectors, explaining the strong earnings potential in roles like medical scientists or managers overseeing research initiatives. Many students also leverage this foundation for advanced degrees, further boosting long-term career prospects. To maximize your opportunities, actively seek out undergraduate research positions or internships; hands-on lab experience is paramount for standing out in this competitive, innovation-driven sector.
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 UW-Madison'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 UW-Madison stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UW-Madison
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UW-Madison, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Microbiology & Immunology at UW-Madison
How does University of Wisconsin-Madison's Microbiology & Immunology program score?
This program scores 64/100, 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 Wisconsin-Madison rank so high for Microbiology & Immunology?
The #7 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.