Microbiology, General

CIP Code: 26.0502

A microbiology, general degree prepares graduates for careers in Natural sciences managers, Microbiologists, Biological science teachers, postsecondary and more. 107 colleges and universities offer this program.

Annual Degrees Awarded
2,646
Colleges Offering 107
Avg. Career Salary $86,680
Top Career Salary $161,180

Microbiology, General Salary by College

Nationally, bachelor’s graduates in this field earn a median $62,582 four years after graduating (middle half: $44,047–$83,205). Where you study it matters: across 49 colleges with reported results, pay ranges from $46,726 to $103,546.

Sort by:

#College4 yrs afterWage-adjusted1 yr afterMedian debtOutcome Rating
1University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA$103,546$94,220$50,706$14,455A+
2University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA$90,061$81,950$42,634$16,500A
3San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA$85,037$77,378$56,071$24,186B
4Clemson University Clemson, SC$81,526$90,400$30,265$23,884A+
5San Diego State University San Diego, CA$81,122$73,816$45,360$15,500B
6Miami University-Oxford Oxford, OH$77,163$82,344—$26,972B
7Washington State University Pullman, WA$76,384$70,257$43,736$21,250B
8California State University-Chico Chico, CA$74,888$68,143$49,068$23,500B
9University of California-Davis Davis, CA$74,343$67,647$46,005$11,000A
10California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA$73,988$67,324$48,631—B
11University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA$73,944$68,013$34,669$13,849A
12University of California-Riverside Riverside, CA$72,295$65,784$43,086$13,939B+
13Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX$69,628$70,791$27,445$21,198B+
14Colorado State University-Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO$69,269$64,780$39,701$20,500C+
15Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, IN$69,128$74,162——A
16Weber State University Ogden, UT$68,597$65,014$41,079$18,982B+
17University of Wisconsin-La Crosse La Crosse, WI$68,454$71,230$54,290$25,464B+
18University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN$68,398$65,335$37,068$23,685A
19University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI$68,397$71,170$49,186$21,500A+
20Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA$67,253$61,240—$24,817A
21University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA$66,642$58,685$47,331$23,750B+
22Brigham Young University Provo, UT$66,603$63,124$31,833$11,087A
23University of Nevada-Reno Reno, NV$66,355$68,869$39,752$19,084B
24Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH$66,222$70,669$37,592$19,783A
25University of Kansas Lawrence, KS$65,861$68,374$43,734$27,000B+
26Texas State University San Marcos, TX$65,502$66,596$37,663$23,115C+
27California State University-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA$65,366$59,479$39,266$15,000C
28University of Vermont Burlington, VT$65,120$66,884—$24,879B+
29University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA$65,024$59,168$36,403$14,545A+
30North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC$64,510$69,228$43,761$22,956A
31University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA$64,428$58,625$43,608$13,811A+
33University of Florida-Online Gainesville, FL$64,285$68,423$27,994$14,942A
32University of Florida Gainesville, FL$64,285$68,423$27,994$14,942A+
34North Dakota State University-Main Campus Fargo, ND$64,014$66,320$40,262$24,520B+
35University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE$62,095$64,178$40,792$24,020B
36Michigan State University East Lansing, MI$61,953$65,322$38,726$26,625A
37University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Norman, OK$61,165$68,674$34,451$24,304A
38Montana State University Bozeman, MT$60,221$65,782$37,181$20,399C+
39Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Stillwater, OK$59,979$67,342$38,040$18,500B+
40Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ$58,491$60,100$37,375$23,250C+
41University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI$57,890$61,038$32,022$18,330A+
42University of South Florida Tampa, FL$57,628$61,338$32,135$19,000B+
43Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ$57,244$58,819$39,521$18,268B+
44University of Arizona Tucson, AZ$55,784$57,319$42,433$20,005B
45The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, TX$53,992$54,894$22,069$18,938C
47Oregon State University-Cascades Campus Bend, OR$53,349$53,663$37,610$21,666B
46Oregon State University Corvallis, OR$53,349$53,663$37,610$21,666B+
48Iowa State University Ames, IA$49,875$52,462$39,019$22,763B+
49The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TX$46,726$47,507$26,218$21,000C+

Bachelor’s degrees. Wage-adjusted = pay ÷ √(state wage index). Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data.

What Can You Do With a Microbiology, General Degree?

Graduates with this degree pursue careers in the following fields:

Natural sciences managers

$161,180 +3.7% growth

Microbiologists

$87,330 +4.1% growth

Biological science teachers, postsecondary

$83,460 +7.3% growth

Biological technicians

$52,000 +3.5% growth

Food science technicians

$49,430 +4.8% growth
$86,680
Average Salary Across Careers
$161,180
Highest Paying Career
5
Career Paths Available

Best Colleges for Microbiology, General

Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees awarded. These are the top-rated colleges that produce the most graduates in microbiology, general.

# College Location Degrees Awarded Repit Grade
1 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI 34 A+
2 University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA 92 A
3 University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA 57 A
4 University of Georgia Athens, GA 50 A
5 University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 31 A
6 University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA 103 B+
7 University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI 95 B+
8 University of California-Davis Davis, CA 95 B+
9 Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH 68 B+
10 University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA 67 B+
11 Clemson University Clemson, SC 60 B+
12 North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC 47 B+
13 Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX 42 B+
14 San Diego State University San Diego, CA 31 B+
15 University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA 29 B+
16 California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA 29 B+
17 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA 27 B+
18 Brigham Young University Provo, UT 110 B
19 Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Stillwater, OK 70 B
20 Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ 62 B
21 Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 61 B
22 Colorado State University-Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO 49 B
23 Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX 48 B
24 University of Kansas Lawrence, KS 46 B
25 University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Norman, OK 46 B
26 University of California-Riverside Riverside, CA 45 B
27 Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 42 B
28 Iowa State University Ames, IA 36 B
29 University of Iowa Iowa City, IA 31 B
30 Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LA 31 B

Largest Microbiology, General Programs

Schools ranked by number of graduates. These institutions produce the most microbiology, general graduates annually, including online and distance learning programs.

# College Location Degrees Awarded Repit Grade
1 Brigham Young University Provo, UT 110 B
2 University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA 103 B+
3 University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI 95 B+
4 University of California-Davis Davis, CA 95 B+
5 University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA 92 A
6 Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Stillwater, OK 70 B
7 Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH 68 B+
8 University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA 67 B+
9 Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ 62 B
10 Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 61 B
11 Clemson University Clemson, SC 60 B+
12 University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA 57 A
13 University of Georgia Athens, GA 50 A
14 Colorado State University-Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO 49 B
15 Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX 48 B
16 North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC 47 B+
17 University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Norman, OK 46 B
18 University of Kansas Lawrence, KS 46 B
19 University of California-Riverside Riverside, CA 45 B
20 Weber State University Ogden, UT 43 C+
21 Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX 42 B+
22 Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 42 B
23 Iowa State University Ames, IA 36 B
24 Texas State University San Marcos, TX 36 C+
25 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI 34 A+
26 University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 31 A
27 San Diego State University San Diego, CA 31 B+
28 Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LA 31 B
29 University of Iowa Iowa City, IA 31 B
30 University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA 29 B+
2,646
Degrees Awarded Annually
107
Colleges Offering Program
5
Related Careers

About Microbiology, General

Microbiology, General is a degree program offered at 107 colleges and universities across the United States. Each year, approximately 2,646 students graduate with this degree.

Graduates with this degree can pursue careers such as natural sciences managers, microbiologists, biological science teachers, postsecondary, biological technicians, food science technicians.

Program Classification

CIP Code 26.0502
Field (2-digit CIP) 26
Category (4-digit CIP) 26.05

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do with a Microbiology, General degree?
A Microbiology, General degree can lead to careers as a natural sciences managers, microbiologists, biological science teachers, postsecondary, biological technicians, food science technicians, and more. Top earners in related careers can make up to $161,180 annually.
How many colleges offer Microbiology, General?
107 colleges and universities in the United States offer Microbiology, General as a degree program. Each year, approximately 2,646 students graduate with this degree.
What are the best colleges for Microbiology, General?
The best colleges for Microbiology, General based on Repit's ratings include University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of California-Berkeley, University of California-San Diego, University of Georgia, University of California-Santa Barbara. Rankings are based on the college's overall Repit grade and the number of degrees awarded in this program.
What is the salary potential with a Microbiology, General degree?
Graduates with a Microbiology, General degree can expect average salaries around $86,680 in related careers, with top earners making up to $161,180. Actual salaries depend on the specific career path, experience level, and location.