by our College Data Analytics TeamMicrobiology & Immunology was the 637th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 407 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 7.6% increase in microbiology and immunology degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 376.
This year's Best Microbiology & Immunology Schools ranking compares 20 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of microbiology and immunology programs later in this article.
Microbiology & Immunology majors are found most commonly in careers in which understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents is important. Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times are all required skills for careers related to this major.
microbiology and immunology degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Specific microbiology and immunology careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are various different levels of microbiology and immunology degrees. You can spend many years getting as high as a in microbiology and immunology to something that takes less time like a . The time it takes to complete a microbiology and immunology degree varies depending on the program.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to microbiology and immunology, with approximately 38.6% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for microbiology and immunology workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 37.3% |
| Master’s Degree | 18.1% |
| Doctoral Degree | 17.8% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 15.9% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 4.1% |
50.9% of microbiology and immunology workers have at least a master's. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in microbiology and immunology have received.
This of course varies depending on which microbiology and immunology career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your microbiology and immunology degree? Microbiology & Immunology careers are expected to grow 11.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to microbiology and immunology.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Science Professors | 71,700 | 15.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 62,300 | 9.9% |
| Biological Scientists | 41,800 | 8.0% |
| Microbiologists | 25,100 | 8.2% |
As you might expect, salaries for microbiology and immunology graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for microbiology and immunology graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers microbiology and immunology grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | $139,680 |
| Biological Science Professors | $97,340 |
| Biological Scientists | $83,600 |
| Microbiologists | $81,150 |
With over 57 different microbiology and immunology degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased microbiology and immunology school rankings to help you with this.
Learn about other programs related to Microbiology & Immunology that might interest you.
One of 7 majors within the Microbiological Sciences & Immunology area of study, Microbiology & Immunology has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Microbiology | 2,911 |
| Medical Microbiology & Bacteriology | 797 |
| Immunology | 210 |
| Other Microbiological Sciences & Immunology | 208 |
| Virology | 15 |
