by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 38 U.S. colleges awarded 490 degrees and certificates in Microbiology & Immunology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 42% of graduates. College Factual ranks 18 schools in its 2027 Best Microbiology & 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.
Studying Microbiology & Immunology covers Microbiology And Immunology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Microorganisms That Cause Disease And The Host Immune Response To Them. Includes Instruction In Microbiology, Microbial Genetics, Molecular Virology, Pathogenic Bacteriology, Disease Mechanisms, Immunology, Immunogenetics, Autoimmunity, And Bioinformatics. Examples: [Medical Microbiology And Immunology].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., microbiology & immunology is a popular field of study, with 490 degrees awarded annually. 38 colleges award microbiology & immunology degrees, an average of 13 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 62.
By level, the 490 awards include 206 bachelor’s degrees, 167 master’s degrees and 117 doctorates.
Women earned 65% of microbiology & immunology degrees and certificates in the latest year (317 of 490). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (196) and Hispanic or Latino (79), and international students earned 59.
College Factual ranks 18 schools in its 2027 Best Microbiology & Immunology Schools ranking, including 10 for bachelor’s degrees, 8 for master’s degrees and 5 for doctorates. It also ranks microbiology & immunology schools within 10 states. In all, 38 colleges offer microbiology & immunology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Microbiology & Immunology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common microbiology & immunology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 206 of the 490 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to microbiology & 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 Oral Comprehension.
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How long a microbiology & immunology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 206 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 167 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 117 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to microbiology & immunology, at 35.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 35.5% |
| Master’s degree | 19.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 17.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 14.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.7% |
| Some college courses | 2.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.8% |
Source: O*NET Online.
12 occupations are related to Microbiology & Immunology, with an average median salary of $93,605; the strongest outlook belongs to Biological Technicians, at 12.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Scientist, Clinical Project Manager, Clinical Trials Manager and Research Coordinator.
The occupation related to microbiology & immunology with the most projected jobs is Clinical Research Coordinators, at 542,888.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Microbiologists | 140,194 | -2.7% |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 125,815 | 8.9% |
Microbiology & 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 microbiology & 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 |
| Biological Technicians | $100,160 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
Microbiology & Immunology has 8 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 4,248 degrees a year; the largest are Microbiology, General (2,556), Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology (977) 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 |
| Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology | 977 |
| 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.
