Microbiological Sciences and Immunology at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

UW-La Crosse graduates with microbiology degrees start strong at $54,290—well above the national median of $38,040 and ranking in the 95th percentile nationally. The program also delivers impressively low debt at $25,464, meaning graduates owe less than half their first-year salary. That's a textbook healthy debt-to-income ratio that should make loan repayment manageable. Compared to Wisconsin's four microbiology programs, La Crosse lands solidly in the middle for earnings, slightly edging out UW-Madison despite the flagship's reputation.

The concerning wrinkle here is the earnings trajectory: salaries drop to $46,419 by year four, a 14% decline. This suggests many graduates may be in training positions or taking specialized career paths where mid-twenties earnings don't tell the full story. Given the small sample size (under 30 graduates), a few individuals pursuing graduate school, research fellowships, or switching fields could skew these numbers significantly. The pattern isn't necessarily alarming for science fields where advanced degrees or residencies often create temporary earnings dips before longer-term payoffs.

For families, the low debt burden is the real safety net. Even if your child follows the lower-earning trajectory, they won't be crushed by payments. Just understand that microbiology often requires graduate work for higher-level positions, so this bachelor's degree may be step one of a longer educational journey.