Home Schools Purdue University Genetics
Biological Sciences · Genetics Rank #8 of 11

Geneticsat Purdue University-Main Campus

Graduates earn $39,052/yr in their first year — about 18.0% above the national Genetics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $471K; scenarios range from $448K to $469K depending on AI disruption.

West Lafayette, IN Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
37 AT RISK
38
Optimistic
35
Pessimistic
Earnings
$39,052
1-year post-graduation
ROI
8.8x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$471K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
54% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Purdue University

Purdue's strong STEM reputation, particularly in research-intensive fields, translates well into its specialized Genetics program. The university's robust research infrastructure provides extensive opportunities for hands-on lab experience, a critical differentiator for employers in this niche field. You'll likely find opportunities across academic research, pharmaceutical development, agricultural biotechnology, and clinical genetics nationwide, leveraging Purdue’s established recruiting pipelines. The significant earnings outcomes reflect the high demand for specialized geneticists with practical research skills gained from a large, well-resourced institution. However, the high AI risk underscores the importance of focusing on roles requiring complex problem-solving, ethical judgment, and direct patient or research management. Prioritize internships and research assistantships to develop these irreplaceable human skills.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$448K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score35/100
Earnings Multiple11.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$471K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score37/100
Earnings Multiple11.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$469K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score38/100
Earnings Multiple11.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Purdue University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Genetics graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Natural sciences managers
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$161,180/yr
High
2
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
+8.7% 10-yr growth · 9,600 openings/yr
$100,590/yr
High
3
Genetic counselors
+9.3% 10-yr growth · 300 openings/yr
$98,910/yr
High
4
Biological scientists, all other
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 4,800 openings/yr
$93,330/yr
Moderate
5
Biological science teachers, postsecondary
+7.3% 10-yr growth · 5,400 openings/yr
$83,460/yr
Moderate
6
Biological technicians
+3.5% 10-yr growth · 9,100 openings/yr
$52,000/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Genetics

How Purdue University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus
NH · Public
54
DW Score
$52K
1-yr earn
9.5x
ROI
University of California-Davis
CA · Public
51
DW Score
$41K
1-yr earn
11.8x
ROI
University of Wisconsin-Madison
WI · Public
48
DW Score
$38K
1-yr earn
14.2x
ROI
Iowa State University
IA · Public
38
DW Score
$33K
1-yr earn
12.3x
ROI
Ohio State University-Main Campus
OH · Public
38
DW Score
$32K
1-yr earn
11.2x
ROI
Also at Purdue University

Other top programs at Purdue University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Purdue University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Genetics at Purdue University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Genetics at Purdue University-Main Campus?

A score of 37/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Genetics. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Genetics careers?

With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $447,721 in decade earnings vs $468,931 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.