Genetics: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 10 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What Genetics pays
Career outlook for Genetics graduates
The job market for the occupations Genetics graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical scientists, except epidemiologists | 165,300 | +8.7% | $100,590 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Natural sciences managers | 104,300 | +3.7% | $161,180 | Bachelor's degree |
| Biological technicians | 82,700 | +3.5% | $52,000 | Bachelor's degree |
| Biological science teachers, postsecondary | 66,000 | +7.3% | $83,460 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Biological scientists, all other | 63,700 | +1.2% | $93,330 | Bachelor's degree |
| Genetic counselors | 4,000 | +9.3% | $98,910 | Master's degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Genetics vs similar majors
How Genetics stacks up against the closest fields in Biological & Biomedical Sciences on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Genetics Biological & Biomedical Sciences · this major | Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | Pharmacology and Toxicology | Biotechnology | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 82 A | 86 A | 91 A | 87 A |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $77,429 | $122,658 | $92,541 | $89,459 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $42,130 | $82,737 | $51,581 | $63,581 |
| ROI vs cost | +305% | +824% | +493% | +437% |
| Typical debt | $22,418 | $33,122 | $22,369 | $29,545 |
| Colleges offering it | 10 | 11 | 5 | 23 |
Genetics earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Genetics
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke University Durham, NC | Master's | $137,010 | — | +1,454% | Strong return |
| 2 | University of California-Davis Davis, CA | Associate's | $78,152 | $13,848 | +860% | Strong return |
| 3 | University of Georgia Athens, GA | Associate's | $71,717 | $17,375 | +681% | Strong return |
| 4 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus Durham, NH | Associate's | $80,032 | $26,994 | +510% | Strong return |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI | Associate's | $68,301 | $19,500 | +457% | Strong return |
| 6 | Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH | Associate's | $62,758 | $20,182 | +323% | Strong return |
| 7 | Texas A&M University-College Station College Station, TX | Associate's | $65,238 | $16,232 | +317% | Strong return |
| 8 | Arcadia University Glenside, PA | Certificate | $95,202 | $41,000 | +278% | Strong return |
| 9 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI | Associate's | $59,887 | $25,000 | +207% | Strong return |
| 10 | Iowa State University Ames, IA | Associate's | $55,989 | $21,631 | +144% | Strong return |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.