by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, microbiology was the 224th most popular major nationwide with 2,911 degrees awarded. This represents a small change of only -0.1% from the prior year's total of 2,913 microbiology degrees awarded.
Our 2023 Best Microbiology Schools ranking analyzes 78 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for microbiology students. Explore this or one of our many other custom microbiology rankings further below.
Microbiology majors are found most commonly in careers in which understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents is important. Required skills include communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
microbiology degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. In addition to these basic microbiology program qualifications, to serve in some microbiology careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
Microbiology degree levels vary. You can spend many years getting as high as a in microbiology to something that takes less time like a . Microbiology programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to microbiology, with approximately 40.2% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for microbiology workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 38.4% |
| Master’s Degree | 18.8% |
| Doctoral Degree | 17.2% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 13.6% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 4.8% |
93.9% of microbiology workers have at least a bachelor's. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in microbiology careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the microbiology career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your microbiology degree? Microbiology careers are expected to grow 11.9% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to microbiology.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Science Professors | 71,700 | 15.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 62,300 | 9.9% |
| Microbiologists | 25,100 | 8.2% |
As you might expect, salaries for microbiology graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for microbiology graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers microbiology grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | $139,680 |
| Biological Science Professors | $97,340 |
| Microbiologists | $81,150 |
With over 238 different microbiology degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased microbiology school rankings to help you with this.
One of 7 majors within the Microbiological Sciences & Immunology area of study, Microbiology has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Medical Microbiology & Bacteriology | 797 |
| Microbiology & Immunology | 407 |
| Immunology | 210 |
| Other Microbiological Sciences & Immunology | 208 |
| Virology | 15 |
