by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 183 U.S. colleges awarded 4,738 degrees and certificates in Microbiological Sciences & Immunology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 62% of graduates. College Factual ranks 107 schools in its 2027 Best Microbiological Sciences & Immunology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $39,180 one year after completing, rising to $65,487 after four years.
Organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye can either aid human life, or cause devastating diseases. If you would like to study cells, organisms and bacteria that hold the secret of life, consider majoring in Microbiological Sciences & Immunology.
In this major you will study organisms like protozoa, fungi, algae, viruses, and bacteria. Many of your studies will be around how to control, cure, and eliminate infectious diseases. The study of microorganisms also allows one to learn how to remove spilled toxic waste or improve medical cures.
Some classes you will take will be: physiology, biology, genetics, pathogenicity, ecology, advanced mathematics, taxonomy, microbiology, chemistry, and physics.
Students have the choice to study General Microbiology, or they can choose concentrations in Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology, Virology, Parasitology, Mycology, or Immunology.
A degree in Microbiological Sciences & Immunology covers Microbiological Sciences And Immunology.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, microbiological sciences & immunology draws strong interest, with 4,738 degrees awarded annually. 183 colleges award microbiological sciences & immunology degrees, an average of 26 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 509.
By level, the 4,738 awards include 1 associate degrees, 2,939 bachelor’s degrees, 1,105 master’s degrees and 693 doctorates.
Women earned 65% of microbiological sciences & immunology degrees and certificates in the latest year (3,080 of 4,738). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,167) and Hispanic or Latino (943), and international students earned 395.
College Factual ranks 107 schools in its 2027 Best Microbiological Sciences & Immunology Schools ranking, including 77 for bachelor’s degrees, 24 for master’s degrees and 26 for doctorates. It also ranks microbiological sciences & immunology schools within 42 states. In all, 183 colleges offer microbiological sciences & immunology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Microbiological Sciences & Immunology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common microbiological sciences & immunology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 2,939 of the 4,738 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to microbiological sciences & immunology call most for Reading Comprehension, Writing and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Biology, English Language and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Curiosity about all forms of life will aid you in this major. You will be studying about microbial life including its structure and behavior. Good communication skills will help you write lab reports and research papers. You will also need to work closely with your professors and your peers; it is important to be able to listen to their advice and explain your own thoughts and ideas clearly. Teamwork will also be part of this major; you should be ready to pull your own weight as well as step up to a leadership position when needed.
You will learn critical thinking skills throughout your undergraduate degree. Biological theories and practical knowledge will help you think critically and analytically. You should be ready to solve difficult problems using advanced science and math. Working with and operating scientific equipment will be a requirement for this major.
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How long a microbiological sciences & immunology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,939 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,105 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 693 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to microbiological sciences & immunology, at 32.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 32.0% |
| Master’s degree | 20.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 18.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 15.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.2% |
| Some college courses | 2.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.7% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
16 occupations are related to Microbiological Sciences & Immunology, with an average median salary of $93,001; the strongest outlook belongs to Biological Technicians, at 12.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Scientist, Research Coordinator, Clinical Project Manager and Clinical Trials Manager.
Many graduates end up pursuing graduate work in various biological studies. However, you can go right into a career in the field as well. Microbiological Science & Immunology is necessary when researching better medical care, disease prevention, microbiological systems, or pollution control. You will be prepared to work in research laboratories, industries like pharmaceutical or medical device manufactures, technical sales, or even teaching.
The occupation related to microbiological sciences & immunology with the most projected jobs is Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,335,407.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 419,330 | 8.8% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Biological Technicians | 224,048 | 12.8% |
| Epidemiologists | 190,675 | 3.2% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
Microbiological Sciences & Immunology graduates earn a median $39,180 one year after completing their program, $65,487 after four years and $65,002 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $39,180 |
| 4 years | $65,487 |
| 5 years | $65,002 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to microbiological sciences & immunology is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Food Science Technicians | $100,898 |
| Biological Technicians | $100,160 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
Microbiological Sciences & Immunology includes 9 concentrations that together award 4,738 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Microbiology, General (2,556), Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology (977) and Microbiology and Immunology (490). It has 14 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 182,365 degrees a year; the largest are Biology, General (103,797), Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (14,729) and Neurobiology and Neurosciences (13,720). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Microbiology, General | 2,556 |
| Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology | 977 |
| Microbiology and Immunology | 490 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology, Other | 250 |
| Immunology | 242 |
| Infectious Disease and Global Health | 196 |
| Mycology | 14 |
| Virology | 7 |
| Parasitology | 6 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biology, General | 103,797 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 14,729 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 13,720 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 12,732 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 9,697 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 6,673 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | 4,879 |
| Biotechnology | 4,423 |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 4,228 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 3,447 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
