by our College Data Analytics TeamOrganisms too small to be seen with the naked eye can either aid human life, or cause devastating diseases. If you would like to study cells, organisms and bacteria that hold the secret of life, consider majoring in Microbiological Sciences & Immunology.
In this major you will study organisms like protozoa, fungi, algae, viruses, and bacteria. Many of your studies will be around how to control, cure, and eliminate infectious diseases. The study of microorganisms also allows one to learn how to remove spilled toxic waste or improve medical cures.
Some classes you will take will be: physiology, biology, genetics, pathogenicity, ecology, advanced mathematics, taxonomy, microbiology, chemistry, and physics.
Students have the choice to study General Microbiology, or they can choose concentrations in Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology, Virology, Parasitology, Mycology, or Immunology.
A degree in Microbiological Sciences & Immunology covers Microbiological Sciences And Immunology. Continue reading for the key facts every microbiological sciences & immunology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering microbiological sciences & immunology programs.
Nationwide, microbiological sciences & immunology draws strong interest, with 4,711 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Microbiological Sciences & Immunology Schools ranking analyzes these 179 schools to determine the best overall colleges for microbiological sciences & immunology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of microbiological sciences & immunology programs later in this article.
Studies in Microbiological Sciences & Immunology build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations microbiological sciences & immunology graduates commonly enter.
Curiosity about all forms of life will aid you in this major. You will be studying about microbial life including its structure and behavior. Good communication skills will help you write lab reports and research papers. You will also need to work closely with your professors and your peers; it is important to be able to listen to their advice and explain your own thoughts and ideas clearly. Teamwork will also be part of this major; you should be ready to pull your own weight as well as step up to a leadership position when needed.
You will learn critical thinking skills throughout your undergraduate degree. Biological theories and practical knowledge will help you think critically and analytically. You should be ready to solve difficult problems using advanced science and math. Working with and operating scientific equipment will be a requirement for this major.
The skill set built by a microbiological sciences & immunology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a microbiological sciences & immunology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several microbiological sciences & immunology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 3 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3,014 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,021 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 673 |
People currently working in careers related to microbiological sciences & immunology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 32.0% |
| Master’s degree | 20.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 18.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 15.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.2% |
| Some college courses | 2.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.7% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in microbiological sciences & immunology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Many graduates end up pursuing graduate work in various biological studies. However, you can go right into a career in the field as well. Microbiological Science & Immunology is necessary when researching better medical care, disease prevention, microbiological systems, or pollution control. You will be prepared to work in research laboratories, industries like pharmaceutical or medical device manufactures, technical sales, or even teaching.
Majoring in microbiological sciences & immunology prepares you for a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to microbiological sciences & immunology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to microbiological sciences & immunology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 419,330 | 8.8% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Biological Technicians | 224,048 | 12.8% |
| Epidemiologists | 190,675 | 3.2% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of microbiological sciences & immunology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $39,180 |
| 4 years | $52,367 |
| 5 years | $65,002 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for microbiological sciences & immunology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers microbiological sciences & immunology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Food Science Technicians | $100,898 |
| Biological Technicians | $100,160 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
With 179 different microbiological sciences & immunology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased microbiological sciences & immunology school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in microbiological sciences & immunology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Microbiology, General | 2,646 |
| Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology | 961 |
| Microbiology and Immunology | 443 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology, Other | 253 |
| Immunology | 220 |
| Infectious Disease and Global Health | 162 |
| Virology | 16 |
| Mycology | 6 |
| Parasitology | 4 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biology, General | 101,585 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 13,820 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 12,819 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 11,175 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 9,295 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 6,355 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | 4,612 |
| Biotechnology | 3,869 |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 3,638 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 3,408 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
