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Bacteriologist education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a bacteriologist. Bacteriologists usually study biology, microbiology, or medical technician. 78% of bacteriologists hold a bachelor's degree, and 13% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 134 real bacteriologist resumes to see exactly what bacteriologist education sections show.

The most common colleges for bacteriologists are the Boston University and the Boston University.

There are also many online bacteriologist courses to help get the education required to be a bacteriologist.

What education do you need to become a bacteriologist?

What degree do you need to be a bacteriologist?

The most common degree for bacteriologists is bachelor's degree, with 78% of bacteriologists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 13% and master's degree degree at 3%.
  • Bachelor's, 78%
  • Master's, 13%
  • Associate, 3%
  • Doctorate, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become a bacteriologist?

You should major in biology to become a bacteriologist. 30% of bacteriologists major in biology. Other common majors for a bacteriologist include microbiology and medical technician.

Most common colleges for bacteriologists

Bacteriologists often get their degrees at Boston University, University of Massachusetts Boston, and Florida State University. Here are the most common colleges for bacteriologists in the US based on their resumes.
Bacteriologist common collegePercentages
Boston University17.50%
University of Massachusetts Boston15.00%
Florida State University12.50%
University of Delaware7.50%
New York University5.00%

Best majors for bacteriologists

RankMajorPercentages
1Biology30.3%
2Microbiology21.3%
3Medical Technician9.0%
4Chemistry5.6%
5Nursing3.4%

Best colleges for bacteriologists

The best colleges for bacteriologists are Duke University, Yale University, and Vanderbilt University.

A bacteriologist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for bacteriologists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become bacteriologists.

1. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Enrollment

34,564

3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

4. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

In-state tuition

$53,430

Enrollment

5,963

5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

6. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$54,104

Enrollment

7,089

7. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

8. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

In-state tuition

$49,816

Enrollment

6,840

9. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

10. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$10,610

Enrollment

40,329

20 best online courses for bacteriologists

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1. Chemical Biology

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Chemical biology is a burgeoning field that has rapidly risen to prominence. This surge of interest has been fuelled by chemical biology’s applicability to understanding critical processes in live cells or model organisms in real time. This success has arisen because chemical biology straddles a nexus between chemistry, biology, and physics. Thus, chemical biology can harness rapid chemistry to observe or perturb biological processes, that are in turn reported using physical assays, all in an...

2. Infectious Disease Modelling

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Mathematical modelling is increasingly being used to support public health decision-making in the control of infectious diseases. This specialisation aims to introduce some fundamental concepts of mathematical modelling with all modelling conducted in the programming language R - a widely used application today.\n\nThe specialisation will suit you if you have a basic working knowledge of R, but would also like to learn the necessary basic coding skills to write simple mathematical models in...

3. General Biology I: Foundations of Biology

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4.5
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An essential course in Biology for students of all ages...

4. Introductory Biology

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4.6
(655)

Life around us is simply amazing. I'll show you why...

5. Biology Everywhere Foundations

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In this course, we will explore the nature of science and biology. We will discuss what the “biology everywhere” philosophy means and the history of the “biology everywhere” project. We will also discuss what science (and biology) are as a discipline of inquiry and how chemistry is foundational to understanding biology...

6. Experimental Methods in Systems Biology

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Learn about the technologies underlying experimentation used in systems biology, with particular focus on RNA sequencing, mass spec-based proteomics, flow/mass cytometry and live-cell imaging. A key driver of the systems biology field is the technology allowing us to delve deeper and wider into how cells respond to experimental perturbations. This in turns allows us to build more detailed quantitative models of cellular function, which can give important insight into applications ranging from...

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Risk factors, how cancer grows, and how to treat it...

8. OSHA Safety Pro: Deadly Concrete Dust. Crystalline Silica.

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OSHA's General, Construction, and Maritime Industries Hazard Prevention and Safety Standard...

9. Lactation Biology

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Lactation and especially milk, which is the product of that unique mammalian process, are routinely encountered within our daily lives. Nevertheless, they often are poorly understood by many, even including many who are engaged in the business of producing milk. The overall course goal is to introduce fundamental concepts that form the basis for understanding the biology of lactation, the biology of the mammary gland, and the products of that important physiological process. As a learner in...

10. Data and Health Indicators in Public Health Practice

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Epidemiology is often described as the cornerstone science in public health. Epidemiology in public health practice uses study design and analyses to identify causes in an outbreak situation, guides interventions to improve population health, and evaluates programs and policies. In this course, we'll define the role of the professional epidemiologist as it relates to public health services, functions, and competencies. With that foundation in mind, we'll introduce you to the problem solving...

11. OSHA Control of Hazardous Energy and Lock Out / Tag Out

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OSHA required training under 29 CFR 1910 and 1926...

12. The Complete MARINE BIOLOGY 101 Course, Beginner to Advanced

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The NEW course with everything you need on Marine Biology - 2021 Online CERTIFICATE - Taught by a real marine biologist!...

13. Biology Everywhere

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Where have you experienced biology today? Journey through the science of life through the lens of our daily lives. This specialization is intended to bridge the gap between traditional biology classes and the practical biology knowledge needed in the real world. In each module, a different biological concept is examined and related to some real-world issues or experiences in an effort to demonstrate why the science of life matters to your everyday experience. Content includes subjects typically...

14. Extracellular Vesicles in Health and Disease

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This course aims to provide current understanding about extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their role in health and diseases. The EVs are known to be involved in cell to cell communication. Apart from maintaining normal cell physiology, EVs deliver messages that can drive or influence the progression of a disease. This course discusses recent advances made in the field to give an introduction on their function in health as well as in disease.This course includes four modules. Module 1 is an...

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17. Materials in Oral Health

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18. Cancer Biology

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The healthcare system is a rapidly evolving field with new research leading to advancements in medicine. Developed at Johns Hopkins University and led by top-ranked Hopkins faculty and cancer experts, this specialization on Cancer Biology focuses on the basics of cancer biology, how cancer metastasis occurs, and specifically, screening guidelines for prostate cancer, the most common cancer in American men.\n\nThis specialization starts with an Introduction to the Biology of Cancer, introduces...

19. Major Depression in the Population: A Public Health Approach

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Public Mental Health is the application of the principles of medicine and social science to prevent the occurrence of mental and behavioral disorders and to promote mental health of the population. This course illustrates the principles of public health applied to depressive disorder, including principles of epidemiology, transcultural psychiatry, health services research, and prevention. It is predicted that by 2020 depressive disorder will be the most important cause of disease burden in the...

20. Public Health in Humanitarian Crises 2

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This course, Public Health in Humanitarian Crises 2, addresses public health issues of people affected by disasters, both natural or conflict-related. It discusses the many changes that occur in people’s lives when they are uprooted by a disaster, including many important topics related to humanitarian crises, such as when there is an epidemic a public health emergency; what do we mean with the humanitarian development nexus; what are the basics of disaster epidemiology and surveillance;...

Top 10 most affordable universities for bacteriologists

The most affordable schools for bacteriologists are University of Florida, california state university - long beach, and hunter college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for bacteriologists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for bacteriologists.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

3. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

4. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

5. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

6. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

7. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

8. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

9. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

10. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for bacteriologists

The hardest universities for bacteriologists to get into are Duke University, Yale University, and Vanderbilt University.

Some great schools for bacteriologists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for bacteriologists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

2. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,517

3. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

5. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,456

6. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

7. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

8. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

9. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

10. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for bacteriologists

The easiest schools for bacteriologists to get into are D'Youville College, barry university, and curry college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a bacteriologist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for bacteriologists.

1. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

2. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

3. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,026

4. AdventHealth University

Orlando, FL • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,016

5. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

6. Marymount University

Arlington, VA • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,065

7. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

8. Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,099

9. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

10. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

Average bacteriologist salary by education level

According to our data, bacteriologists with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $94,515 annually. Bacteriologists with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $80,353.
Bacteriologist education levelBacteriologist salary
Master's Degree$80,353
Bachelor's Degree$72,963
Doctorate Degree$94,515

Bacteriologist education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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