Microbiological Sciences and Immunology at University of Miami

The $17,200 first-year salary for University of Miami's microbiology graduates is startlingly low—less than half the national median of $38,040 and far below Florida's median of $27,994. This places graduates in the bottom 10% statewide and bottom 5% nationally, earning less than University of Florida graduates ($27,994) and significantly trailing University of South Florida ($32,135). At a highly selective institution with a 19% acceptance rate and average SAT of 1416, these outcomes are deeply disappointing.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) offers some hope that this figure might not represent the typical experience, but it cannot be ignored entirely. The modest debt load of $18,625 provides little comfort when first-year earnings barely exceed it—many graduates will struggle to manage even this relatively manageable debt burden on such limited income. While earnings for science graduates often improve substantially after graduate school or additional training, starting this far behind peers creates real financial hardship.

Unless your child has specific reasons to believe their outcome would differ dramatically—such as guaranteed admission to medical school or a funded research position lined up—this program represents a significant financial risk. The combination of premium private school costs and bottom-tier outcomes suggests exploring other Florida options like UF or USF, where microbiology graduates earn 60-85% more right out of the gate.