Microbiology major
Microbiology: courses, careers, and where to study
Microbiology studies microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, suiting students aiming for lab research, biotech, public health, and clinical or pharmaceutical work.
Nationally, bachelor's graduates in Microbiology earn a median $62,582 four years after graduating; the middle half of programs ranges from $44,047 to $83,205 (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). By credential and college
A Microbiology major covers the structure, genetics, physiology, and ecology of microorganisms, including bacteriology, virology, immunology, and microbial genetics. Programs build on a strong chemistry sequence (general and organic), biochemistry, genetics, and statistics, and are lab-intensive, with extensive training in aseptic technique, culturing, and microscopy. Common areas of focus include medical microbiology, environmental and industrial microbiology, and microbial genetics or molecular biology.
The major is usually offered as a bachelor's degree and prepares graduates for laboratory and quality-control roles in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, food-safety, environmental, and clinical settings, as well as for medical, dental, and veterinary school. A bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for microbiologists, though independent and academic research positions generally require a master's or PhD.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median annual wage of $87,330 for microbiologists, and BLS projects employment of microbiologists to grow 4.1% from 2024 to 2034.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Microbiology maps to CIP 26.0502, Microbiology, General, within the BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES family. The official definition:
A program that focuses on the scientific study of unicellular organisms and colonies, and subcellular genetic matter and their ecological interactions with human beings and other life. Includes instruction in microbial genetics, cell biology, cell physiology, virology, pathogenic microbiology, environmental microbiology, immunology, biostatistics, bioinformatics, and laboratory methods including microscopy.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What credential Microbiology is awarded as
Of the 2,258 Microbiology credentials U.S. colleges reported conferring in 2024-25:
- Certificate: <1%, 1 credentials.
- Associate: <1%, 1 credentials.
- Bachelor's: 80%, 1,812 credentials.
- Graduate: 20%, 444 credentials.
CampusPin does not have enough states reporting this field to say whether the mix changes from state to state. See the full study.
Credentials conferred in 2024-25, U.S. Department of Education IPEDS completions. A certificate is a different credential from a degree, not a lesser one, and this counts what was awarded rather than what a college currently offers.
What you'll study
- General microbiology, bacteriology, and aseptic laboratory technique
- Virology and the biology of viruses and other infectious agents
- Immunology and host-pathogen interactions
- Microbial genetics and molecular biology
- Microbial physiology and metabolism
- Biochemistry and the supporting chemistry sequence (general, organic)
- Lab methods (culturing, staining, microscopy, PCR, sequencing)
- Senior research project or capstone in a microbiology lab
Typical careers
- Microbiologists
- Clinical / Medical Laboratory Scientist
- Quality Control Microbiologist (pharma or food)
- Biotech Research Associate
- Public Health Laboratory Technician
- PhD Microbiologist (academia or industry)
Typical salary range: BLS, 2024 microbiologists median $87,330 (informational; varies by sector and degree)Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
How much do Microbiology graduates earn?
Nationally, bachelor's graduates in Microbiology earn a median $62,582 four years after graduating; the middle half of programs ranges from $44,047 to $83,205 (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard).
| Credential | National median | Middle half of programs |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | $62,582 | $44,047 to $83,205 |
| Master's | $84,750 | $60,140 to $109,387 |
Compare Microbiology programs in your state
Highest-earning bachelor's Microbiology programs
- San Francisco State University (CA): $85,037, median federal debt $24,186
- California State University-Chico (CA): $74,888, median federal debt $23,500
- University of California-Davis (CA): $74,343, median federal debt $11,000
- Texas Tech University (TX): $69,628, median federal debt $21,198
- Colorado State University-Fort Collins (CO): $69,269, median federal debt $20,500
- Weber State University (UT): $68,597, median federal debt $18,982
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI): $68,397, median federal debt $21,500
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA): $66,642, median federal debt $23,750
- Brigham Young University (UT): $66,603, median federal debt $11,087
- University of Nevada-Reno (NV): $66,355, median federal debt $19,084
Ordered by median earnings: one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality. Federal program group: Microbiological Sciences and Immunology. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars, for graduates who received federal aid, worked and were not enrolled. Programs need at least 30 graduates in the earnings cohort to be listed; multi-state systems whose figures pool campuses are not listed. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, 10 June 2026. How much the college matters, by major. Graduate programs over the new federal loan caps.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Microbiology, with what each one pays and how many openings it is projected to average each year. Ordered by projected annual openings, largest first. Linked titles open the full CampusPin career page.
| Occupation | Median pay | Openings / yr | Projected change | Most entrants hold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biological Technicians | $52,000 | 9,100 | +3.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $161,180 | 8,500 | +3.7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $83,460 | 5,400 | +7.3% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Food Science Technicians | $49,430 | 3,200 | +4.8% | Associate's degree |
| Microbiologists | $87,330 | 1,700 | +4.1% | Bachelor's degree |
Crosswalk: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. Pay, openings and projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024 wages, Employment Projections). 5 of these 5 occupations report a median wage.
“Most entrants hold” is what BLS observes about people already working in the occupation. It is not a legal requirement, not an admission rule, and not a guarantee of entry. Studying Microbiology does not guarantee any specific occupation, and many of these roles are entered from several different fields. Projected openings are a projection, not jobs promised.
Before you commit to a Microbiology major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Microbiology program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Microbiology department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a Microbiology program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Colleges that awarded the most Microbiology credentials
Largest by credentials conferred in 2024-25. This measures the size of the graduating class, not quality, and it is not a ranking.
- University of California-Davis, CA · 114 credentials
- Brigham Young University, UT · 106 credentials
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI · 103 credentials
- University of California-Berkeley, CA · 85 credentials
- University of Washington-Seattle Campus, WA · 74 credentials
- Oklahoma State University-Main Campus, OK · 69 credentials
- Ohio State University-Main Campus, OH · 68 credentials
- University of Massachusetts-Amherst, MA · 66 credentials
- University of California-San Diego, CA · 59 credentials
- Arizona State University Campus Immersion, AZ · 57 credentials
- Colorado State University-Fort Collins, CO · 57 credentials
- Texas Tech University, TX · 55 credentials
Based on credentials this institution reported conferring in the federal IPEDS completions collection for 2024-25. It confirms the field was awarded that year, not that the program currently accepts students, and it covers only the fields CampusPin tracks. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Where Microbiology credentials were awarded
2 states have a distinct enough set of Microbiology colleges to be worth its own page.
Every Microbiology program with its own CampusPin page
5 programs in 4 states, A to Z by state and then by college. Each page gives what the program's graduates earned four years after finishing, what they borrowed in federal loans, the monthly payment, and how the program compares with others in its state and the nation. The figure beside each college is the median for its largest credential with at least 30 graduates (U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23). The list is alphabetical; it is not a ranking.
Microbiology programs in Arizona, 1 program
- Arizona State University Campus Immersion Bachelor's, $57,244
Microbiology programs in California, 2 programs
- University of California-Davis Bachelor's, $74,343
- University of California, Los Angeles Bachelor's, $65,024
Microbiology programs in Colorado, 1 program
- Colorado State University-Fort Collins Bachelor's, $69,269
Microbiology programs in Montana, 1 program
- Montana State University Bachelor's, $60,221
Related majors
Biology
Biology is the foundational pre-health major, covering molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecological levels of living systems.
Biochemistry
Biochemistry studies the chemistry of living systems, bridging biology and chemistry for students aiming at research, biotech, pharmaceutical, or medical and graduate pathways.
Chemistry
Chemistry studies matter and its transformations, preparing graduates for pharmaceutical, materials, energy, environmental, and biotech careers, plus medical and graduate school.
Health Sciences
Health Sciences is a broad pre-professional major for students preparing for medical, dental, PA, PT, or pharmacy school, combining biology, chemistry, and patient-care exposure.
Public Health
Public Health studies how to prevent disease and protect population health, suiting students who want to improve community well-being through data, policy, and programs rather than treating patients.
Put this major in context
The salary above is an occupation-wide median from federal data, not a starting wage or a guarantee. These CampusPin guides and reports help you read it well, see where a Microbiology degree can lead, and weigh it against cost and program quality.
Explore Science & Research careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
Explore Management careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
How one major leads to many careers
Why a single Microbiology degree can open more than one path, and how to read the occupations above.
Why a median wage is not a starting salary
How to read a BLS median, and why early-career pay usually sits below it.
When accreditation and licensure matter
How program accreditation and state licensure can shape a Microbiology path before you enroll.
Does a pricier college pay off?
How college cost lines up with graduation and earnings, an association, not a ranking.
Does picking a major narrow your college list?
Across the federal completions data, most fields barely change which colleges are on the table. Which ones genuinely do.
Certificate or degree?
What credential a field is usually awarded as is mostly set by the field itself, not by the state, with a short list of exceptions.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.