Microbiology

College is a big investment, but a University of Arizona education may be more affordable than you think. No matter your background or family’s financial situation, you have options to make it manageable.

At Arizona, 9 out of 10 students receive financial aid. That means most students pay less than the estimates shown here. By maximizing your financial aid – scholarships, grants, loans, or work-study – you can lower your costs while earning a degree that will pay you back for a lifetime.

Estimated cost of tuition for first-year and transfer students:

• Arizona residents: $13,900/yr
• Non-Arizona residents: $42,300/yr

Get our degree guide to learn how students like you are funding their futures.

Application requirements vary based on your status as a first-time, transfer, international, online or returning student.

• Students who haven't completed 12+ transferable post-high school college credits are considered a first-time college student, and must meet Arizona's core competency requirements to be eligible to apply.
• You are considered a transfer student if you have completed 12+ transferable post-high school college credits.
  • If you are under the age of 22 at the start of your desired term, you will need to meet the core competency requirements and have a minimum 2.0 cumulative college/university GPA.
  • If you are 22 or older at the start of your desired term, you will need a minimum 2.0 cumulative college/university GPA.
• SAT/ACT scores are not required for general admission.
• You have the option to submit a resume and 500-word personal statement during your application.

Get our degree guide to find out more details about the application process and deadlines.

A degree in microbiology prepares you for careers in disease prevention and treatment. It also can serve as a springboard for graduate school. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for microbiologist careers was $85,470 per year with a faster-than-average job growth overall (2023).

There are a variety of career opportunities available to students who earn a degree in microbiology, including:

• Microbiologist: Provide expert knowledge on pathogenic and beneficial microbes for government agencies, universities, agricultural companies, food safety organizations, research institutes and international agencies.
• Plant pathologist: Explore the critical role that disease-causing microbes, including viruses, bacteria, fungi and nematodes, play in limiting crop production.
• Industrial technician: Engineer organisms and communities to optimize and improve the production of food, pharmaceuticals, fuels and many other products on a commercial scale.
• Food safety and consumer health specialist: Study the close relationship between microbes and agricultural crops and food products, and how those microbes inhabit and contaminate food.