CollegeCostWise

Bachelor's · Santa Barbara, California

Is Microbiological Sciences and Immunology at University of California-Santa Barbara worth it?

Low confidence Low confidence: fewer than 40 graduates behind the earnings figures.

The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans

Pays back fast: graduates typically recover the cost in about 2.6 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating
$55,209
Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating
$96,736
Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation
$14,607
NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families
$71k (likely $71k – $83k)
AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4
$57k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in CA
2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback
2.6 years (likely 2.0–3.4)
Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return
$283k (likely $146k – $441k)
Today's dollars
20-year net return
$956k (likely $656k – $1.32M)
Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide)
84%
Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26

Change income, residency or loans Compare Microbiological Sciences and Immunology at other schools

🩺 Getting ready in high school

Students heading toward health & medicine majors like this one often take these classes. Every school offers a different mix, so check with your counselor.

AP classes

  • AP Biology
  • AP Chemistry
  • AP Psychology
  • AP Statistics

IB Higher Level

  • Biology HL
  • Chemistry HL

Build my roadmap 🗺️ Middle school to career, plus high schools near you that offer these classes.

Other majors at University of California-Santa Barbara

Microbiological Sciences and Immunology at other schools in California