by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 3 U.S. colleges awarded 7 degrees and certificates in Virology. Graduates earn a median $39,180 one year after completing, rising to $65,487 after four years.
A degree in Virology explores Virology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Subcellular Pieces Of Genetic Material, Called Viruses, That Inhabit Living Cells In Parasitical Relationships And Their Role In Disease. Includes Instruction In Virus Taxonomy And Systematics, Viral Structures, Viral Genetics, Prions, Virus/host Cell Interaction, Viral Pathogenesis, And Applications To Specific Topics Such As Cancer Biology.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, virology is a widely-pursued major, with 7 degrees awarded annually. 3 colleges award virology degrees, an average of 2 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 5.
All 7 of the awards are doctorates, the only level colleges reported.
Women earned 43% of virology degrees and certificates in the latest year (3 of 7). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (5) and Asian (1), and international students earned 1.
O*NET rates Reading Comprehension the most important skill for jobs related to virology, at 4.1 out of 5. The key knowledge areas are Biology, English Language and Mathematics. 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 a virology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 7 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to virology, 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 Virology, 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 Trials Manager, Clinical Project Manager and Research Coordinator.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to virology, 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% |
Virology 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 virology 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 |
Virology has 8 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 4,731 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 |
| Immunology | 242 |
| Infectious Disease and Global Health | 196 |
| Mycology | 14 |
| Parasitology | 6 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.