Microbiological Sciences and Immunology: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology graduates earn a median $62,582 four years after finishing — $14,222/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,902/yr net price ($67,608 over four years), that pays back in about 4.8 years. Federal data pools 115 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 3,374 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology ranks #96 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 53% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley | CA | $103,546 |
| 2 | University of California-Santa Barbara | CA | $90,061 |
| 3 | San Francisco State University | CA | $85,037 |
| 4 | Clemson University | SC | $81,526 |
| 5 | San Diego State University | CA | $81,122 |
| 6 | Miami University-Oxford | OH | $77,163 |
| 7 | Washington State University | WA | $76,384 |
| 8 | California State University-Chico | CA | $74,888 |
| 9 | University of California-Davis | CA | $74,343 |
| 10 | California State University-Long Beach | CA | $73,988 |
| 11 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | WA | $73,944 |
| 12 | University of California-Riverside | CA | $72,295 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.
How fast does Microbiological Sciences and Immunology pay grow after graduation?
From $27,994 one year out to $62,582 four years out — a $34,588 climb, or 124% over three years. Both are federal medians of the same graduating cohorts, so the gap reflects real wage progression rather than a change in who is measured.
How many students graduate in Microbiological Sciences and Immunology each year?
About 3,374 bachelor's graduates a year across 115 programs in the federal file. Cohort size matters when reading the median: a field this size averages across a wide range of employers, regions and job titles.