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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Microbiology Schools in the Great Lakes Region

8 Colleges in the United States
335 Microbiology Degrees Awarded
$46,388 Avg Early-Career Salary

Microbiology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 24 schools to find the best for microbiology students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Microbiology in the Great Lakes Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the microbiology degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Microbiology

1

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign tops our 2026 ranking of the best microbiology schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 22 microbiology degrees in the most recent data year. Microbiology graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,778. Read more about the microbiology program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

2

A rank of #2 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the top schools for microbiology. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. About 89 microbiology degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Students who receive their microbiology degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $49,186 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,480. More information about a degree in microbiology from University Of Wisconsin Madison

3

Ohio State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in microbiology, ranking #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 66 microbiology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the microbiology program make about $37,592 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in microbiology from Ohio State University Main Campus

4

A rank of #4 makes Indiana University Bloomington one of the top schools for microbiology. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 21 microbiology degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Graduates of the microbiology program make about $52,123 in their early career. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans. Get the full microbiology details for Indiana University Bloomington

5

Students looking for a strong microbiology program will find one at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 34 microbiology degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Graduates of the microbiology program make about $32,022 in their early career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $18,644 in student loans. More information about a degree in microbiology from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

6

Miami University Oxford came in at #6 for microbiology this year. Miami University Oxford is a large public school located in the town of Oxford. Miami University Oxford graduates 80% of students within six years. Miami University Oxford awarded about 23 microbiology degrees in the most recent data year. Microbiology graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $49,700 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in microbiology from Miami University Oxford

7
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University came in at #7 for microbiology this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 57 microbiology degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the microbiology program make about $38,726 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $29,301 to complete this degree. Get the full microbiology details for Michigan State University

8

University Of Wisconsin La Crosse ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best microbiology schools. Located in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse awarded about 23 microbiology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the microbiology program make about $54,290 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse graduates carry a median of $25,464 in student loans. Get the full microbiology details for University Of Wisconsin La Crosse

Narrow Microbiology Schools by State

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 24 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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