Microbiological Sciences and Immunology: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 63 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Negative payoff
−$40,811 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
With these assumptions, the added earnings do not recover the cost within ten years.
12.0 yrsModeled economic break-even
−17%Modeled 10-year ROI
$65,366Observed earnings · year 4
$5,915Maximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
The price benchmark would need to fall by $10,203 per year to reach it.
Includes direct price and earnings forgone while studying. Assumes $45,000 in alternative annual earnings and no wage growth. How we calculate itFour useful answers about Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
How much do Microbiological Sciences and Immunology bachelor's degree graduates earn?
The national median is $65,366 four years after completion across reportable bachelor's degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
The median reported federal debt is $21,868. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.
Does the college matter for Microbiological Sciences and Immunology?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $58,491 to $69,269 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Microbiological Sciences and Immunology?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 10 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$23,660
$8,000Annual price−$8,340
$16,000Current college-wide context−$40,340
$24,000Annual price−$72,340
$32,000Annual price−$104,340
$40,000Annual price−$136,340
Observed national outcomes
$65,366Median reported earnings · year 4
$64,675Average reported earnings · year 5
$21,868Median federal debt
54thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
41IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
53With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 4 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts, not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
CURRENT VIEW
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $65,366
- Federal debt
- $21,868
- Reporting programs
- 63
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $97,683
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 6
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $68,039
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$58,491National median$65,36675th percentile$69,269
53 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP
Where colleges sit for this exact degree
Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.
$81,526Observed year-4 earnings$40,501
University of California, Berkeley$13,481 price · $103,546 earningsUniversity of California, Santa Barbara$16,109 price · $90,061 earningsSan Francisco State University$12,278 price · $85,037 earningsClemson University$22,253 price · $81,526 earningsSan Diego State University$15,364 price · $81,122 earningsMiami University-Oxford$28,384 price · $77,163 earningsWashington State University$14,971 price · $76,384 earningsCalifornia State University, Chico$14,480 price · $74,888 earningsUniversity of California, Davis$14,741 price · $74,343 earningsCalifornia State University, Long Beach$10,440 price · $73,988 earningsUniversity of Washington-Seattle Campus$14,091 price · $73,944 earningsUniversity of California, Riverside$14,304 price · $72,295 earningsTexas Tech University$19,070 price · $69,628 earningsColorado State University-Fort Collins$21,279 price · $69,269 earningsIndiana University-Bloomington$16,264 price · $69,128 earningsWeber State University$10,258 price · $68,597 earningsUniversity of Wisconsin-La Crosse$16,210 price · $68,454 earningsUniversity of Minnesota-Twin Cities$16,778 price · $68,398 earningsUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison$17,354 price · $68,397 earningsVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University$24,953 price · $67,253 earningsUniversity of Massachusetts-Amherst$22,383 price · $66,642 earningsBrigham Young University$15,564 price · $66,603 earningsUniversity of Nevada-Reno$15,927 price · $66,355 earningsOhio State University-Main Campus$17,339 price · $66,222 earningsUniversity of Kansas$18,059 price · $65,861 earningsTexas State University$16,805 price · $65,502 earningsCalifornia State University, Los Angeles$3,967 price · $65,366 earningsUniversity of Vermont$19,343 price · $65,120 earningsUniversity of California, Los Angeles$12,548 price · $65,024 earningsNorth Carolina State University at Raleigh$17,303 price · $64,510 earningsUniversity of California, San Diego$12,470 price · $64,428 earningsUniversity of Florida$6,541 price · $64,285 earningsUniversity of Florida-Online$4,815 price · $64,285 earningsNorth Dakota State University-Main Campus$15,543 price · $64,014 earningsUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln$17,747 price · $62,095 earningsMichigan State University$19,680 price · $61,953 earningsUniversity of Oklahoma-Norman Campus$15,300 price · $61,165 earningsMontana State University$22,499 price · $60,221 earningsOklahoma State University-Main Campus$17,447 price · $59,979 earningsNorthern Arizona University$14,158 price · $58,491 earningsUniversity of Michigan-Ann Arbor$13,138 price · $57,890 earningsUniversity of South Florida$9,812 price · $57,628 earningsArizona State University Campus Immersion$14,967 price · $57,244 earningsUniversity of Arizona$16,674 price · $55,784 earningsThe University of Texas at El Paso$9,403 price · $53,992 earningsOregon State University$19,604 price · $53,349 earningsOregon State University-Cascades Campus$18,048 price · $53,349 earningsIowa State University$18,589 price · $49,875 earningsThe University of Texas at San Antonio$10,836 price · $46,726 earningsUniversity of Puerto Rico-Humacao$12,675 price · $45,816 earningsUniversity of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez$17,936 price · $40,501 earningsUniversity of Puerto Rico-Arecibo$10,680 price · $37,027 earningsInter American University of Puerto Rico-San German$9,148 price · $33,355 earnings
$6,541Annual college-wide average net price$22,383
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
63 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of California, Berkeley$103,5462University of California, Santa Barbara$90,0613San Francisco State University$85,0374Clemson University$81,5265San Diego State University$81,1226Miami University-Oxford$77,1637Washington State University$76,3848California State University, Chico$74,8889University of California, Davis$74,34310California State University, Long Beach$73,988Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →26%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$84,620 median wage50,190 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1042+7.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 4.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$52,150–$169,900 10th–90th percentileNatural Sciences Managers$167,220 median wage108,690 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9121+8.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 9.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$79,710–$316,850 10th–90th percentileBiological Scientists, All Other$98,920 median wage55,850 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-1029+4.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 4.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$60,430–$168,010 10th–90th percentileMedical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$103,410 median wage172,340 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-1042+12.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 10.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$64,800–$177,780 10th–90th percentileMicrobiologists$87,990 median wage18,940 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-1022+6.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$54,670–$150,000 10th–90th percentileBiological Technicians$57,510 median wage69,620 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-4021+7.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 9.4k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$40,330–$84,940 10th–90th percentileMedical and Health Services Managers$123,860 median wage597,080 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9111+24.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 62.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$73,390–$224,340 10th–90th percentileHealth Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$107,310 median wage221,270 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1071+17.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 24.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$59,270–$322,020 10th–90th percentileEpidemiologists$87,220 median wage12,090 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-1041+18.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Master's degree$61,270–$138,800 10th–90th percentileFood Science Technicians$52,130 median wage14,600 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-4013+4.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Associate's degree$39,820–$78,820 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Where this degree has enough data to compare
State pages are published only when at least five operating colleges report year-4 earnings for this exact field and credential.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario, not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California, BerkeleyBachelor's Degree | Berkeley, CA | $103,546 | $14,308 | +150% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | University of California, Santa BarbaraBachelor's Degree | Santa Barbara, CA | $90,061 | $16,500 | +84% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | San Francisco State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $85,037 | $24,120 | +75% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Clemson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Clemson, SC | $81,526 | $25,762 | +36% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | San Diego State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $81,122 | $15,500 | +50% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Miami University-OxfordBachelor's Degree | Oxford, OH | $77,163 | $27,000 | +10% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | Washington State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pullman, WA | $76,384 | $21,250 | +31% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | California State University, ChicoBachelor's Degree | Chico, CA | $74,888 | $24,572 | +26% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | University of California, DavisBachelor's Degree | Davis, CA | $74,343 | $11,000 | +23% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | California State University, Long BeachBachelor's Degree | Long Beach, CA | $73,988 | Not available | +31% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $73,944 | $15,917 | +22% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | University of California, RiversideBachelor's Degree | Riverside, CA | $72,295 | $14,121 | +15% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | Texas Tech UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lubbock, TX | $69,628 | $22,985 | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Colorado State University-Fort CollinsBachelor's Degree | Fort Collins, CO | $69,269 | $26,000 | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Indiana University-BloomingtonBachelor's Degree | Bloomington, IN | $69,128 | Not available | -2% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Weber State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ogden, UT | $68,597 | $24,383 | +7% | Positive payoff |
| 17 | University of Wisconsin-La CrosseBachelor's Degree | La Crosse, WI | $68,454 | $25,464 | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $68,398 | $23,685 | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonBachelor's Degree | Madison, WI | $68,397 | $23,480 | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Blacksburg, VA | $67,253 | $24,135 | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | University of Massachusetts-AmherstBachelor's Degree | Amherst, MA | $66,642 | $27,000 | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Brigham Young UniversityBachelor's Degree | Provo, UT | $66,603 | $12,250 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | University of Nevada-RenoBachelor's Degree | Reno, NV | $66,355 | $19,500 | -12% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Ohio State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $66,222 | $20,500 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | University of KansasBachelor's Degree | Lawrence, KS | $65,861 | $27,000 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | Texas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Marcos, TX | $65,502 | $25,000 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | California State University, Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $65,366 | $19,334 | +4% | Positive payoff |
| 28 | University of VermontBachelor's Degree | Burlington, VT | $65,120 | $25,000 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | University of California, Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $65,024 | $14,000 | -13% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | North Carolina State University at RaleighBachelor's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $64,510 | $24,486 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | University of California, San DiegoBachelor's Degree | La Jolla, CA | $64,428 | $13,811 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | University of FloridaBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $64,285 | $16,446 | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | University of Florida-OnlineBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $64,285 | $16,446 | -3% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | North Dakota State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Fargo, ND | $64,014 | $25,543 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | University of Nebraska-LincolnBachelor's Degree | Lincoln, NE | $62,095 | $25,941 | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Michigan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | East Lansing, MI | $61,953 | $29,301 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusBachelor's Degree | Norman, OK | $61,165 | $24,304 | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Montana State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bozeman, MT | $60,221 | $22,065 | -44% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Oklahoma State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Stillwater, OK | $59,979 | $19,323 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | Northern Arizona UniversityBachelor's Degree | Flagstaff, AZ | $58,491 | $24,000 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $57,890 | $18,644 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | University of South FloridaBachelor's Degree | Tampa, FL | $57,628 | $19,503 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $57,244 | $19,000 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | University of ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $55,784 | $20,750 | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | The University of Texas at El PasoBachelor's Degree | El Paso, TX | $53,992 | $18,531 | -59% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Oregon State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Corvallis, OR | $53,349 | $22,959 | -68% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Oregon State University-Cascades CampusBachelor's Degree | Bend, OR | $53,349 | $22,959 | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | Iowa State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ames, IA | $49,875 | $22,500 | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | The University of Texas at San AntonioBachelor's Degree | San Antonio, TX | $46,726 | $21,671 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | University of Puerto Rico-HumacaoBachelor's Degree | Humacao, PR | $45,816 | $5,500 | -96% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | University of Puerto Rico-MayaguezBachelor's Degree | Mayaguez, PR | $40,501 | $8,375 | -118% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | University of Puerto Rico-AreciboBachelor's Degree | Arecibo, PR | $37,027 | $5,250 | -136% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-San GermanBachelor's Degree | San German, PR | $33,355 | Not available | -154% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | Auburn UniversityBachelor's Degree | Auburn, AL | Not available | $22,164 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $24,323 |
| 55 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoBachelor's Degree | San Luis Obispo, CA | Not available | $22,138 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $16,665 |
| 56 | California State University, NorthridgeBachelor's Degree | Northridge, CA | Not available | $7,500 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $7,021 |
| 57 | University of MiamiBachelor's Degree | Coral Gables, FL | Not available | $18,625 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $37,244 |
| 58 | University of GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Athens, GA | Not available | $23,214 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $13,936 |
| 59 | University of IdahoBachelor's Degree | Moscow, ID | Not available | $24,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $14,831 |
| 60 | Kansas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Manhattan, KS | Not available | $17,227 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $19,406 |
| 61 | Mississippi State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Mississippi State, MS | Not available | $24,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $17,595 |
| 62 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | Not available | $19,800 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $30,434 |
| 63 | The University of Texas at ArlingtonBachelor's Degree | Arlington, TX | Not available | $21,395 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $13,951 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.