Best colleges for Microbiological Sciences and Immunology in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of California-Berkeley, California State University - Chico and California State University - Long Beach are the top bachelor's Microbiological Sciences and Immunology programs in California by graduate earnings. University of California-Berkeley leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,706, College Scorecard. University of California-Los Angeles, University of California-Davis and University of California-Berkeley award the most Microbiological Sciences and Immunology degrees in California: 152, 125 and 96 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 18 California colleges offer Microbiological Sciences and Immunology and award 661 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Microbiological Sciences and Immunology program focuses on the study of microorganisms and their interactions with humans, animals, plants, and the environment. This program is ideal for students interested in biological and biomedical…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,706 | 96 | 93% | — | $14,308 |
| 2 | California State University - Chico Chico Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,068 | 22 | 63% | — | $24,572 |
| 3 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,631 | 31 | 69% | — | — |
| 4 | University of California-Davis Davis Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,005 | 125 | 86% | — | $11,000 |
| 5 | San Diego State University San Diego Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,360 | 31 | 76% | — | $15,500 |
| 6 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,608 | 58 | 86% | — | $13,811 |
| 7 | University of California-Riverside Riverside Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,086 | 43 | 76% | — | $14,121 |
| 8 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,403 | 152 | 93% | — | $14,000 |
| 9 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $55,807 | 9 | 86% | — | $22,138 |
| 10 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $42,634 | 19 | 83% | — | $16,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Microbiological Sciences and Immunology degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 152 | $36,403 |
| 2 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 125 | $46,005 |
| 3 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 96 | $50,706 |
| 4 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public | 58 | $43,608 |
| 5 | University of California-Riverside Riverside Public | 43 | $43,086 |
| 6 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public | 31 | $48,631 |
| 7 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 31 | Not reported |
| 8 | San Diego State University San Diego Public | 31 | $45,360 |
| 9 | California State University - Chico Chico Public | 22 | $49,068 |
| 10 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public | 19 | $42,634 |
ShowHide the other 8 California colleges offering Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford University | Stanford | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| University of California-Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz | Public | 10 |
| California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo | Public | 9 |
| California Institute of Technology | Pasadena | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| California State University - Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Public | 1 |
| Fullerton College | Fullerton | Public | 1 |
| Loma Linda University | Loma Linda | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Microbiologists (SOC 19-1022).
Top skills
What Microbiologists earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Microbiological Sciences and Immunology programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Microbiological Sciences and Immunology degrees?+
University of California-Los Angeles (152 graduates a year), University of California-Davis (125 graduates a year) and University of California-Berkeley (96 graduates a year) award the most Microbiological Sciences and Immunology degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 18 California colleges offer Microbiological Sciences and Immunology.
What is the best college for Microbiological Sciences and Immunology in California?+
By graduate earnings, University of California-Berkeley leads among bachelor's Microbiological Sciences and Immunology programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,706, College Scorecard. California State University - Chico and California State University - Long Beach follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-Los Angeles is the largest, with 152 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Microbiological Sciences and Immunology program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of California-Berkeley tops the list at $50,706. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Microbiologists earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Microbiologists in California is $114,790 (median $108,530), across about 2,600 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Microbiological Sciences and Immunology program?+
The Microbiological Sciences and Immunology program focuses on the study of microorganisms and their interactions with humans, animals, plants, and the environment. This program is ideal for students interested in biological and biomedical…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop science, reading comprehension, writing, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Microbiologists?+
The national job outlook is about +4.1% growth with around 1,700 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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