Genetics: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Genetics graduates earn a median $66,076 four years after finishing — $17,716/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,902/yr net price ($67,608 over four years), that pays back in about 3.8 years. Federal data pools 26 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 787 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Genetics ranks #86 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 58% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | NH | $87,608 |
| 2 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick | NJ | $83,484 |
| 3 | University of California-Davis | CA | $77,411 |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | WI | $68,402 |
| 5 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | OH | $63,767 |
| 6 | Texas A&M University-College Station | TX | $61,751 |
| 7 | Michigan State University | MI | $55,404 |
| 8 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | NC | $55,319 |
| 9 | Iowa State University | IA | $55,037 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.
How fast does Genetics pay grow after graduation?
From $31,519 one year out to $66,076 four years out — a $34,557 climb, or 110% over three years. Both are federal medians of the same graduating cohorts, so the gap reflects real wage progression rather than a change in who is measured.
How many students graduate in Genetics each year?
About 787 bachelor's graduates a year across 26 programs in the federal file. Cohort size matters when reading the median: a field this size averages across a wide range of employers, regions and job titles.