Genetics Degree
Students study heredity, DNA structure and function, gene expression, genomics, and the application of genetic principles to medicine, agriculture, and forensics. Graduates typically pursue careers in genetic counseling, biotech companies, forensic laboratories, pharmaceutical research, and agricultural genetics firms. The genomics revolution has created explosive demand for genetics expertise in personalized medicine and gene therapy.
What Genetics Graduates Do
Your journey into the world of DNA will likely begin in the lab. As a biological technician, you’ll be hands-on: preparing samples, running gene sequencing machines, and meticulously logging data. With an advanced degree, you can transition into a medical scientist role, where your focus shifts from running tests to designing them. You’ll investigate the genetic links to diseases, analyze vast genomic datasets, and publish findings that could lead to new therapies.
Many successful careers follow this path, eventually leading to a role as a natural sciences manager, where you direct research projects and manage lab budgets. While opportunities for medical scientists and highly specialized genetic counselors are growing rapidly, other biological science roles face slower expansion. AI is set to become your new lab partner, automating significant chunks of routine data analysis. This means your value will shift from executing repetitive tasks to designing clever experiments, interpreting AI-generated insights, and communicating their meaning to doctors or patients. Adaptability will be as crucial as your scientific knowledge.
Common Career Paths
Where Genetics graduates typically work, ranked by salary. Salary ranges show 25th–75th percentile spread. This field has roughly 37,700 combined openings per year.
| Career Path | Salary Range | Openings/yr | Growth | AI Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural sciences managers | 8,500 | +3.7% | 50% | |
| Medical scientists, except epidemiologists | 9,600 | +8.7% | 52% | |
| Genetic counselors | 300 | +9.3% | 50% | |
| Biological scientists, all other | 4,800 | +1.2% | 49% | |
| Biological science teachers, postsecondary | 5,400 | +7.3% | 47% | |
| Biological technicians | 9,100 | +3.5% | 42% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).
Best Schools for Genetics
11 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.
| # | School | DW Score | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus Durham, NH |
54 49–55 |
$51,693/yr | 9.5x |
| 2 | University of California-Davis Davis, CA |
51 48–51 |
$41,334/yr | 11.8x |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI |
48 46–49 |
$38,388/yr | 14.2x |
| 4 | Iowa State University Ames, IA |
38 38–39 |
$33,330/yr | 12.3x |
| 5 | Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH |
38 38–38 |
$31,800/yr | 11.2x |
| 6 | Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX |
38 39–39 |
$31,519/yr | 11.5x |
| 7 | Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN |
37 35–38 |
$39,052/yr | 8.8x |
| 8 | University of Georgia Athens, GA |
37 36–38 |
$19,112/yr | 15.0x |
| 9 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI |
29 30–30 |
$26,713/yr | 8.4x |
| 10 | Clemson University Clemson, SC |
26 26–27 |
$31,346/yr | 4.0x |
| 11 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ |
17 17–18 |
$20,373/yr | 2.0x |
Highest Earning Genetics Programs
Schools where Genetics graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | DW Score |
|---|---|---|
| University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | $51,693/yr | 54 |
| University of California-Davis | $41,334/yr | 51 |
| Purdue University-Main Campus | $39,052/yr | 37 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | $38,388/yr | 48 |
| Iowa State University | $33,330/yr | 38 |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | $31,800/yr | 38 |
| Texas A & M University-College Station | $31,519/yr | 38 |
| Clemson University | $31,346/yr | 26 |
| Michigan State University | $26,713/yr | 29 |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | $20,373/yr | 17 |
Best ROI for Genetics
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Genetics.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | DW Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Georgia | 15.0x | $19,112/yr | 37 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | 14.2x | $38,388/yr | 48 |
| Iowa State University | 12.3x | $33,330/yr | 38 |
| University of California-Davis | 11.8x | $41,334/yr | 51 |
| Texas A & M University-College Station | 11.5x | $31,519/yr | 38 |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | 11.2x | $31,800/yr | 38 |
| University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | 9.5x | $51,693/yr | 54 |
| Purdue University-Main Campus | 8.8x | $39,052/yr | 37 |
| Michigan State University | 8.4x | $26,713/yr | 29 |
| Clemson University | 4.0x | $31,346/yr | 26 |
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