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Microbiology laboratory assistant education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a microbiology laboratory assistant. Microbiology laboratory assistants usually study biology, microbiology, or biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology. 71% of microbiology laboratory assistants hold a bachelor's degree, and 14% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 1,426 real microbiology laboratory assistant resumes to see exactly what microbiology laboratory assistant education sections show.

The most common colleges for microbiology laboratory assistants are the University of California - Davis and the University of California - Davis.

There are also many online microbiology laboratory assistant courses to help get the education required to be a microbiology laboratory assistant.

There are certain microbiology laboratory assistant certifications that you should consider. These microbiology laboratory assistant certifications include Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) and Medical Assistant.

What education do you need to become a microbiology laboratory assistant?

What degree do you need to be a microbiology laboratory assistant?

The most common degree for microbiology laboratory assistants is bachelor's degree, with 71% of microbiology laboratory assistants earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 14% and associate degree degree at 5%.
  • Bachelor's, 71%
  • Associate, 14%
  • Master's, 5%
  • High School Diploma, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 6%

What should I major in to become a microbiology laboratory assistant?

You should major in biology to become a microbiology laboratory assistant. 47% of microbiology laboratory assistants major in biology. Other common majors for a microbiology laboratory assistant include microbiology and biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology.

Most common colleges for microbiology laboratory assistants

Microbiology laboratory assistants often get their degrees at University of California - Davis, Michigan State University, and University of California, Santa Barbara. Here are the most common colleges for microbiology laboratory assistants in the US based on their resumes.
Microbiology laboratory assistant common collegePercentages
University of California - Davis12.50%
Michigan State University8.33%
University of California, Santa Barbara5.83%
Purdue University5.83%
California State University - San Bernardino5.83%

Best majors for microbiology laboratory assistants

Best colleges for microbiology laboratory assistants

The best colleges for microbiology laboratory assistants are Vanderbilt University, Johns Hopkins University, and University of Pennsylvania.

A microbiology laboratory assistant with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for microbiology laboratory assistants. 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 microbiology laboratory assistants.

1. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

2. Ohio State University

Columbus, OH • Private

In-state tuition

$10,726

Enrollment

45,769

3. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

6. University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT • Private

In-state tuition

$15,730

Enrollment

18,830

7. University of Vermont

Burlington, VT • Private

In-state tuition

$18,276

Enrollment

10,612

8. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

9. SUNY Stony Brook

Stony Brook, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,625

Enrollment

17,407

10. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

In-state tuition

$17,653

Enrollment

16,405

20 best online courses for microbiology laboratory assistants

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Top 10 most affordable universities for microbiology laboratory assistants

The most affordable schools for microbiology laboratory assistants are Hunter College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and suny farmingdale.

If the best universities for microbiology laboratory assistants 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 microbiology laboratory assistants.

1. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

3. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

4. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

5. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

8. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

9. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

10. University of Central Florida

Orlando, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,368

Cost of attendance

21,034

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for microbiology laboratory assistants

The hardest universities for microbiology laboratory assistants to get into are Vanderbilt University, Johns Hopkins University, and University of Pennsylvania.

Some great schools for microbiology laboratory assistants 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 microbiology laboratory assistants 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. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

2. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

4. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

5. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

6. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,456

7. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

8. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

9. Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,443

10. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for microbiology laboratory assistants

The easiest schools for microbiology laboratory assistants to get into are AdventHealth University, gwynedd mercy university, and barry university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a microbiology laboratory assistant 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 microbiology laboratory assistants.

1. AdventHealth University

Orlando, FL • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,016

2. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

3. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

4. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

5. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

6. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

7. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

8. Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,099

9. Midwestern State University

Wichita Falls, TX • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,033

10. Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, WI • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,035

Average microbiology laboratory assistant salary by education level

Microbiology laboratory assistants with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $38,979 annually. With a Doctorate degree, microbiology laboratory assistants earn a median annual income of $38,347 compared to $37,397 for microbiology laboratory assistants with an Bachelor's degree.
Microbiology laboratory assistant education levelMicrobiology laboratory assistant salary
Master's Degree$38,979
High School Diploma or Less$27,298
Bachelor's Degree$37,397
Doctorate Degree$38,347
Some College/ Associate Degree$32,206

Microbiology laboratory assistant 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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