Microbiological Sciences and Immunology: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 6 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$97,683 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$97,683Median year-4 earnings
$24,574Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$97,683Median reported earnings · year 4
$77,891Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
67thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
6Reporting programs
6With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $65,366
- Federal debt
- $21,868
- Reporting programs
- 63
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $97,683
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 6
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $68,039
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$79,163National median$97,68375th percentile$98,009
6 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1George Mason University$114,7272University of Massachusetts-Amherst$100,7293Drexel University$98,0094Georgetown University$97,3575University of Florida$79,1636Colorado State University-Fort Collins$63,447Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1042 · 8 crosswalk linksBiological Scientists, All OtherSOC 19-1029 · 7 crosswalk linksNatural Sciences ManagersSOC 11-9121 · 7 crosswalk linksMedical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsSOC 19-1042 · 6 crosswalk linksMicrobiologistsSOC 19-1022 · 6 crosswalk linksBiological TechniciansSOC 19-4021 · 3 crosswalk linksEpidemiologistsSOC 19-1041 · 1 crosswalk linksFood Science TechniciansSOC 19-4013 · 1 crosswalk linksHealth Specialties Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1071 · 1 crosswalk linksMedical and Health Services ManagersSOC 11-9111 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Mason UniversityMaster's Degree | Fairfax, VA | $114,727 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,915 |
| 2 | University of Massachusetts-AmherstMaster's Degree | Amherst, MA | $100,729 | Not available | Baseline needed | $22,383 |
| 3 | Drexel UniversityMaster's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $98,009 | Not available | Baseline needed | $38,509 |
| 4 | Georgetown UniversityMaster's Degree | Washington, DC | $97,357 | Not available | Baseline needed | $40,815 |
| 5 | University of FloridaMaster's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $79,163 | Not available | Baseline needed | $6,541 |
| 6 | Colorado State University-Fort CollinsMaster's Degree | Fort Collins, CO | $63,447 | Not available | Baseline needed | $21,279 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.