Microbiological Sciences and Immunology at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58 is manageable on paper, but the story here is what we don't know. When the Department of Education suppresses data due to small sample sizes, it often means few students complete the program—and that lack of scale should matter to parents evaluating LSU's microbiology bachelor's. The national medians suggest first-year earnings around $38,000 with roughly $22,000 in debt, figures that align with other life sciences undergrad programs. That's not alarming, but it's also not impressive for a specialized STEM degree at a flagship state university.

The reality is that most microbiology bachelor's recipients don't stop there—they either pursue graduate school, medical school, or find themselves competing for lab technician roles that may not require this specific degree. With only two Louisiana schools offering this major and no reported outcomes data for either, parents can't benchmark LSU's program against in-state alternatives. The 74% admission rate and solid SAT scores suggest a decent student body, but without knowing how many students actually finish this degree or where they land afterward, you're making a bet on LSU's reputation rather than demonstrated outcomes.

The safe approach: assume this is a stepping stone degree. If your child plans graduate or professional school, the modest debt is reasonable. If they expect this bachelor's to be terminal, probe the career services office hard about actual job placements in this specific major.