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Biological Sciences · Genetics Rank #11 of 11

Geneticsat Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Graduates earn $20,373/yr in their first year — about 39.0% below the national Genetics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $367K; scenarios range from $372K to $356K depending on AI disruption.

New Brunswick, NJ Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
17 AT RISK
18
Optimistic
17
Pessimistic
Earnings
$20,373
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.0x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$367K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
54% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Rutgers

Your path in genetics at Rutgers-New Brunswick leads you into a deeply specialized scientific field. The initial earnings data often reflects that many graduates immediately pursue advanced degrees—Master's, PhDs, or medical school—which are essential for reaching the higher earning potentials seen in roles like medical scientists or natural sciences managers. Rutgers' strong research focus and location within New Jersey's pharmaceutical and biotech corridor (think companies like Bristol Myers Squibb or Johnson & Johnson) offer excellent opportunities for internships and academic research, but direct entry-level industry roles can be competitive. Given the high AI risk, it’s crucial to integrate computational skills and consider interdisciplinary minors, ensuring your expertise evolves with the field. Focus on building strong analytical and data interpretation abilities to thrive.

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
$372K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score17/100
Earnings Multiple5.4x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$367K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score17/100
Earnings Multiple5.3x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$356K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score18/100
Earnings Multiple5.2x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Rutgers'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 Rutgers 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
Purdue University-Main Campus
IN · Public
37
DW Score
$39K
1-yr earn
8.8x
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
Also at Rutgers

Other top programs at Rutgers

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

FAQ

Frequently asked about Genetics at Rutgers

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Genetics at Rutgers University-New Brunswick?

A score of 17/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Genetics. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Is Genetics at Rutgers University-New Brunswick worth the student debt?

Median debt of $26,608 against $20,373/yr starting salary means roughly 1.3 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.

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 $372,406 in decade earnings vs $355,774 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Genetics from Rutgers University-New Brunswick?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.