by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 109 U.S. colleges awarded 2,556 degrees and certificates in Microbiology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 82% of graduates. College Factual ranks 63 schools in its 2027 Best Microbiology 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 Microbiology involves the study of Microbiology, General. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Unicellular Organisms And Colonies, And Subcellular Genetic Matter And Their Ecological Interactions With Human Beings And Other Life. Includes Instruction In Microbial Genetics, Cell Biology, Cell Physiology, Virology, Pathogenic Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology, Immunology, Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, And Laboratory Methods Including Microscopy.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, microbiology is a widely-pursued major, with 2,556 degrees awarded annually. 109 colleges award microbiology degrees, an average of 23 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 114.
By level, the 2,556 awards include 1 associate degrees, 2,098 bachelor’s degrees, 237 master’s degrees and 220 doctorates.
Women earned 64% of microbiology degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,632 of 2,556). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,156) and Hispanic or Latino (640), and international students earned 145.
College Factual ranks 63 schools in its 2027 Best Microbiology Schools ranking, including 61 for bachelor’s degrees, 5 for master’s degrees and 6 for doctorates. It also ranks microbiology schools within 32 states. In all, 109 colleges offer microbiology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Microbiology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common microbiology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 2,098 of the 2,556 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to microbiology call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Writing, and for knowledge of English Language, Biology and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a microbiology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,098 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 237 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 220 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to microbiology, at 42.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 42.5% |
| Master’s degree | 14.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 11.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.9% |
| Some college courses | 4.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
7 occupations are related to Microbiology, with an average median salary of $105,448; the strongest outlook belongs to Biological Technicians, at 12.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Research Coordinator, Clinical Project Manager, Clinical Trials Manager and Clinical Research Administrator.
The occupation related to microbiology 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% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Microbiologists | 140,194 | -2.7% |
| Food Science Technicians | 135,157 | 7.3% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
Microbiology 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 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 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Food Science Technicians | $100,898 |
| Biological Technicians | $100,160 |
| Microbiologists | $73,155 |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $41,048 |
Microbiology has 8 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 2,182 degrees a year; the largest are Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology (977), 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
