Best institutions to study Immunology
A program that focuses on scientific study of the biological mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of disease, host-pathogen interactions, and host response to disease.
26 U.S. institutions graduated 242 Immunology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 26.0507, a specialization of Microbiological Sciences and Immunology (CIP 26.05), and leads most directly to the Microbiologists occupation (BLS SOC 19-1022).
About Immunology programs
A program that focuses on scientific study of the biological mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of disease, host-pathogen interactions, and host response to disease. Includes instruction in antigen and antibody structure and function, effector mechanisms, receptors, histocompatibility, host-pathogen recognition, disease modeling, autoimmune systems, antibody formation, cytotoxic responses, regulation of immune response, virulence determinants, intercellular signaling, immunosuppression, immunotherapy, immunogenetics, disease markers, transplantation, antibody humanization, and microbial pathogenesis.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Immunology program, part of the Microbiological Sciences and Immunology field, focuses on the scientific study of biological mechanisms related to disease pathogenesis, host-pathogen interactions, and immune responses. This program is designed for students interested in understanding the complexities of the immune system and its role in health and disease.
Students in the Immunology program will gain knowledge in areas such as antigen and antibody structure, immune response regulation, disease modeling, and immunotherapy. Core skills developed include critical thinking, laboratory techniques, and effective communication.
Credentials awarded
What Immunology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship194 graduates / yr · 24 institutions80%
- Master's degree31 graduates / yr · 6 institutions13%
- Bachelor's degree15 graduates / yr · 1 institution6.2%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.8%
Graduates over time
Immunology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 163 |
| 2013 | 217 |
| 2014 | 232 |
| 2015 | 238 |
| 2016 | 232 |
| 2017 | 204 |
| 2018 | 233 |
| 2019 | 198 |
| 2020 | 155 |
| 2021 | 209 |
| 2022 | 195 |
| 2023 | 215 |
| 2024 | 216 |
| 2025 | 242 |
Top 26 institutions for Immunology, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yale University New Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 38 | 96% | $27,025 | — |
| 2 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 16 | 97% | $22,055 | — |
| 3 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, ALPublicBachelor's | 15 | 64% | — | — |
| 4 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 15 | 94% | $14,126 | — |
| 5 | University of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 14 | 96% | $13,333 | — |
| 6 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 14 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
| 7 | Weill Medical College of Cornell University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralMaster's | 12 | — | — | — |
| 8 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 11 | 86% | — | $46,005 |
| 9 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicDoctoralMaster's | 11 | 75% | — | — |
| 10 | West Virginia University Morgantown, WVPublicDoctoral | 11 | 65% | — | — |
| 11 | Stanford University Stanford, CAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 10 | 92% | $12,032 | — |
| 12 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, COPublicDoctoral | 9 | 46% | — | — |
| 13 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Houston, TXPublicDoctoral | 9 | — | — | — |
| 14 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicDoctoral | 8 | 93% | — | $32,022 |
| 15 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicDoctoral | 8 | 85% | — | $34,669 |
| 16 | Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science Rochester, MNPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 7 | — | — | — |
| 17 | Duke University Durham, NCPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 7 | 97% | $16,260 | — |
| 18 | Tufts University Medford, MAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralMaster's | 6 | 94% | $23,570 | — |
| 19 | Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TXPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 5 | — | — | — |
| 20 | Wayne State University Detroit, MIPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 4 | 58% | — | — |
| 21 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IAPublicDoctoral | 3 | 75% | — | — |
| 22 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 3 | 94% | $11,888 | — |
| 23 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 90% | — | $37,864 |
| 24 | University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, TXPublicDoctoral | 2 | — | — | — |
| 25 | California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 1 | 94% | $17,608 | — |
| 26 | Iowa State University Ames, IAPublicDoctoral | 1 | 75% | — | $39,019 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Microbiological Sciences and Immunology field (CIP 26.05) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 19 states
Where Immunology graduates come from. Each state links to all Microbiological Sciences and Immunology programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 1 | 38 | Yale University38 / yr |
| California | 3 | 22 | University of California - Davis11 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 20 | Harvard University14 / yr |
| Texas | 3 | 16 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston9 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 16 | University of Pennsylvania16 / yr |
| Alabama | 1 | 15 | University of Alabama at Birmingham15 / yr |
| Missouri | 1 | 15 | Washington University in St Louis15 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 14 | University of Chicago14 / yr |
| Michigan | 2 | 12 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor8 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 12 | Weill Medical College of Cornell University12 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 11 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus11 / yr |
| West Virginia | 1 | 11 | West Virginia University11 / yr |
| Colorado | 1 | 9 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus9 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 8 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus8 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 7 | Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science7 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 7 | Duke University7 / yr |
| Iowa | 2 | 4 | University of Iowa3 / yr |
| Maryland | 1 | 3 | Johns Hopkins University3 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 2 | University of Georgia2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1022, Microbiologists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Immunology program can pursue careers as microbiologists, medical scientists, or biological science teachers. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an annual growth rate of 4.1%, approximately 1,700 annual openings, and a median wage of $87,330 for those with a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 26.0507
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Microbiologistsprimary SOC 19-1022 | $87,990 | +4.1% About as fast as average | ~1,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists SOC 19-1042 | $103,410 | +8.7% Much faster than average | ~9,600 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Natural Sciences Managers SOC 11-9121 | $167,220 | +3.7% About as fast as average | ~8,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1042 | $84,620 | +7.3% Faster than average | ~5,400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Biological Scientists, All Other SOC 19-1029 | $98,920 | +1.2% Little or no change | ~4,800 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Immunology programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Isolate and maintain cultures of bacteria or other microorganisms in prescribed or developed media, controlling moisture, aeration, temperature, and nutrition.
- Provide laboratory services for health departments, community environmental health programs, and physicians needing information for diagnosis and treatment.
- Monitor and perform tests on water, food, and the environment to detect harmful microorganisms or to obtain information about sources of pollution, contamination, or infection.
- Examine physiological, morphological, and cultural characteristics, using microscope, to identify and classify microorganisms in human, water, and food specimens.
- Supervise biological technologists and technicians and other scientists.
- Use a variety of specialized equipment, such as electron microscopes, gas and high-pressure liquid chromatographs, electrophoresis units, thermocyclers, fluorescence-activated cell sorters, and phosphorimagers.
Tools and technology used
Other Microbiological Sciences and Immunology specializations
The 8 other 6-digit CIP codes under Microbiological Sciences and Immunology (CIP 26.05).
- MicrobiologyCIP 26.05022,497 graduates / yr109 institutions
- Medical Microbiology and BacteriologyCIP 26.0503962 graduates / yr33 institutions
- Microbiology and ImmunologyCIP 26.0508477 graduates / yr38 institutions
- Microbiological Sciences and ImmunologyCIP 26.0599248 graduates / yr13 institutions
- Infectious Disease and Global HealthCIP 26.0509196 graduates / yr12 institutions
- MycologyCIP 26.0506limited data14 graduates / yr1 institutions
- VirologyCIP 26.0504partial data7 graduates / yr3 institutions
- ParasitologyCIP 26.0505limited data6 graduates / yr1 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Doctor's degree, Master's degree, or Bachelor's degree in Immunology.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in science, critical thinking, writing, and laboratory techniques.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a microbiologist, medical scientist, or biological science teacher, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a 4.1% growth rate and 1,700 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Immunology?+
Immunology is CIP 26.0507 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Microbiological Sciences and Immunology (CIP 26.05). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on scientific study of the biological mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of disease, host-pathogen interactions, and host response to disease. Includes instruction in antigen and antibody structure and function, effector mechanisms, receptors, histocompatibility, host-pathogen recognition, disease modeling, autoimmune systems, antibody formation, cytotoxic responses, regulation of immune response, virulence determinants, intercellular signaling, immunosuppression, immunotherapy, immunogenetics, disease markers, transplantation, antibody humanization, and microbial pathogenesis.
How many institutions offer Immunology programs?+
26 U.S. institutions reported Immunology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 19 states, awarding 242 credentials in the year. That is 5.2% of all Microbiological Sciences and Immunology graduates.
How much do Immunology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Microbiologists occupation, which Immunology most directly leads to, pays a median of $87,990 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Microbiological Sciences and Immunology field report median earnings of $37,864 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card