by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 33 U.S. colleges awarded 977 degrees and certificates in Medical Microbiology & Bacteriology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 47% of graduates. College Factual ranks 15 schools in its 2027 Best Medical Microbiology & Bacteriology 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 major in Medical Microbiology & Bacteriology covers Medical Microbiology And Bacteriology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Pathogenic Bacteria That Are Significant Factors In Causing Or Facilitating Human Disease. Includes Instruction In The Pathogenesis Of Bacterial Diseases, Bacterial Genetics And Physiology, Bacterial Anatomy And Structure, Antigens, Bacterial Reproduction, Bacterial Adhesion, Phagocytes, And The Identification Of New Or Mutated Bacteria And Bacterial Agents.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, medical microbiology & bacteriology is a widely-pursued major, with 977 degrees awarded annually. 33 colleges award medical microbiology & bacteriology degrees, an average of 30 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 509.
By level, the 977 awards include 463 bachelor’s degrees, 404 master’s degrees and 110 doctorates.
Women earned 70% of medical microbiology & bacteriology degrees and certificates in the latest year (682 of 977). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (542) and Hispanic or Latino (152), and international students earned 42.
College Factual ranks 15 schools in its 2027 Best Medical Microbiology & Bacteriology Schools ranking, including 10 for bachelor’s degrees, 4 for master’s degrees and 5 for doctorates. It also ranks medical microbiology & bacteriology schools within 9 states. In all, 33 colleges offer medical microbiology & bacteriology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Medical Microbiology & Bacteriology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common medical microbiology & bacteriology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 463 of the 977 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to medical microbiology & bacteriology call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Biology and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
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How long a medical microbiology & bacteriology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 463 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 404 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 110 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to medical microbiology & bacteriology, at 26.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 26.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 24.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 19.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 18.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.1% |
| Some college courses | 1.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
12 occupations are related to Medical Microbiology & Bacteriology, with an average median salary of $91,397; the strongest outlook belongs to Biological Technicians, at 12.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Assistant Professor, College Professor, Instructor and Associate Professor.
The occupation related to medical microbiology & bacteriology 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% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Biological Technicians | 224,048 | 12.8% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 125,815 | 8.9% |
Medical Microbiology & Bacteriology 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 medical microbiology & bacteriology 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 |
| Biological Technicians | $100,160 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
Medical Microbiology & Bacteriology has 8 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 3,761 degrees a year; the largest are Microbiology, General (2,556), Microbiology and Immunology (490) and Microbiological Sciences and Immunology, Other (250). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Microbiology, General | 2,556 |
| Microbiology and Immunology | 490 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology, Other | 250 |
| Immunology | 242 |
| Infectious Disease and Global Health | 196 |
| Mycology | 14 |
| Virology | 7 |
| Parasitology | 6 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
