Best institutions to study Parasitology
A program that focuses on the scientific study of biological organisms living in ecologically exploitative and competitive relationships with host organisms, and the role of parasites in causing injury, disease, and environmental damage.
1 U.S. institutions graduated 6 Parasitology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 26.0505, a specialization of Microbiological Sciences and Immunology (CIP 26.05), and leads most directly to the Microbiologists occupation (BLS SOC 19-1022).
About Parasitology programs
A program that focuses on the scientific study of biological organisms living in ecologically exploitative and competitive relationships with host organisms, and the role of parasites in causing injury, disease, and environmental damage. Includes instruction in vector biology, immunoparasitology, medical parasitology, molecular biology of parasitical associations, veterinary and comparative parasitology, chemotherapeutics, and ecological and systematic parasitology.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Parasitology program, a specialization within Microbiological Sciences and Immunology, focuses on the scientific study of organisms that live in relationships with host organisms, often causing injury and disease. This program is designed for students interested in understanding the role of parasites in health and environmental contexts, preparing them for advanced study or careers in biological and biomedical sciences.
Students in the Parasitology program will gain knowledge in vector biology, medical parasitology, and molecular biology of parasitic associations. Coursework emphasizes critical skills in science, reading comprehension, and analytical thinking, essential for effective research and laboratory work.
Credentials awarded
What Parasitology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree6 graduates / yr · 1 institution100%
Graduates over time
Parasitology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 6 |
Top 1 institutions for Parasitology, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 6 | 95% | $17,613 |
Offered in 1 states
Where Parasitology graduates come from. Each state links to all Microbiological Sciences and Immunology programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 1 | 6 | Cornell University6 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1022, Microbiologists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Parasitology program typically pursue careers as microbiologists, with a median wage of $87,330. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 4.1% and approximately 1,700 annual openings in related fields.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 26.0505
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 Parasitology 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
- ImmunologyCIP 26.0507242 graduates / yr26 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
Common questions
What degree do I earn in this program?+
You will earn a Master's degree.
How many colleges in the U.S. offer this program?+
Currently, there is one college offering this program.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in science, critical thinking, and laboratory techniques.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a microbiologist or in related fields such as medical science or biological education.
What is the CIP code for Parasitology?+
Parasitology is CIP 26.0505 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 the scientific study of biological organisms living in ecologically exploitative and competitive relationships with host organisms, and the role of parasites in causing injury, disease, and environmental damage. Includes instruction in vector biology, immunoparasitology, medical parasitology, molecular biology of parasitical associations, veterinary and comparative parasitology, chemotherapeutics, and ecological and systematic parasitology.
How many institutions offer Parasitology programs?+
1 U.S. institutions reported Parasitology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 1 states, awarding 6 credentials in the year. That is 0.1% of all Microbiological Sciences and Immunology graduates.
How much do Parasitology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Microbiologists occupation, which Parasitology most directly leads to, pays a median of $87,990 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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.
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