Microbiological Sciences and Immunology at University of California-Santa Barbara

UCSB's microbiology program lands in an interesting middle ground: it beats most programs nationally but trails several California alternatives. With first-year earnings of $42,634, graduates outpace the national median by over $4,500, yet they're earning less than the typical California microbiology graduate. The state comparison is particularly relevant here—five other California schools, including Cal Poly SLO and UC Berkeley, report median earnings $8,000 to $13,000 higher within the same field.

The debt picture looks favorable at $16,500, representing just 39% of first-year earnings and coming in below California's median for this major. Strong earnings growth of 31% by year four suggests graduates find their footing in the field. However, the 40th percentile ranking among California programs indicates this isn't the most lucrative in-state option for this field, despite UCSB's competitive 28% admission rate.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift with more data, but the pattern is clear enough: UCSB delivers solid outcomes with manageable debt, just not the premium earnings you might expect from a selective UC campus. Parents should weigh whether UCSB's research opportunities and campus environment justify potentially lower starting salaries compared to programs at Cal Poly or other UCs if maximizing early career earnings is the priority.