by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 26 U.S. colleges awarded 242 degrees and certificates in Immunology. Doctorates are the most popular award, at 80% of graduates. College Factual ranks 11 schools in its 2027 Best 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.
A degree in Immunology covers Immunology. A Program That Focuses On Scientific Study Of The Biological Mechanisms Involved In The Pathogenesis Of Disease, Host-Pathogen Interactions, And Host Response To Disease. Includes Instruction In Antigen And Antibody Structure And Function, Effector Mechanisms, Receptors, Histocompatibility, Host-Pathogen Recognition, Disease Modeling, Autoimmune Systems, Antibody Formation, Cytotoxic Responses, Regulation Of Immune Response, Virulence Determinants, Intercellular Signaling, Immunosuppression, Immunotherapy, Immunogenetics, Disease Markers, Transplantation, Antibody Humanization, And Microbial Pathogenesis.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, immunology draws strong interest, with 242 degrees awarded annually. 26 colleges award immunology degrees, an average of 9 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 38.
By level, the 242 awards include 15 bachelor’s degrees, 33 master’s degrees and 194 doctorates.
Women earned 52% of immunology degrees and certificates in the latest year (127 of 242). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (107) and Hispanic or Latino (26), and international students earned 54.
College Factual ranks 11 schools in its 2027 Best Immunology Schools ranking, including 4 for bachelor’s degrees, 2 for master’s degrees and 10 for doctorates. It also ranks immunology schools within 7 states. In all, 26 colleges offer immunology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Immunology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common immunology credential is the doctorate: 194 of the 242 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to 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 Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an immunology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 15 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 33 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 194 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to immunology, at 34.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 34.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 19.0% |
| Master’s degree | 17.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 15.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.3% |
| Some college courses | 2.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
11 occupations are related to Immunology, with an average median salary of $93,009; the strongest outlook belongs to Clinical Research Coordinators, at 10.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Scientist, Clinical Project Manager, Research Coordinator and Clinical Trials Manager.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to immunology, at 542,888.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Microbiologists | 140,194 | -2.7% |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 125,815 | 8.9% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
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 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 Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Microbiologists | $73,155 |
Immunology has 8 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 4,496 degrees a year; the largest are Microbiology, General (2,556), Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology (977) and Microbiology and Immunology (490). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Microbiology, General | 2,556 |
| Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology | 977 |
| Microbiology and Immunology | 490 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology, Other | 250 |
| Infectious Disease and Global Health | 196 |
| Mycology | 14 |
| Virology | 7 |
| Parasitology | 6 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
