by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 38 U.S. colleges awarded 799 degrees and certificates in General Genetics. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 67% of graduates. College Factual ranks 16 schools in its 2027 Best General Genetics Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $43,852 one year after completing, rising to $76,616 after four years.
Studying General Genetics covers Genetics, General. A General Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Organization, Recombination, Function, Regulation, And Transmission Of Heritable Information In Biological Organisms At All Levels Of Complexity. Includes Instruction In Mendelian Genetics, Mechanisms Of Gene Regulation, Chromosome Structure And Replication, Epigenetic Phenomena, Dna Repair And Recombination, Sex Determination, Genetic Interactions Between Genomes, And Molecular Evolution.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, general genetics is a popular field of study, with 799 degrees awarded annually. 38 colleges award general genetics degrees, an average of 21 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 138.
By level, the 799 awards include 532 bachelor’s degrees, 91 master’s degrees and 176 doctorates.
Women earned 69% of general genetics degrees and certificates in the latest year (551 of 799). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (457) and Asian (100), and international students earned 90.
College Factual ranks 16 schools in its 2027 Best General Genetics Schools ranking, including 12 for bachelor’s degrees, 2 for master’s degrees and 7 for doctorates. It also ranks general genetics schools within 12 states. In all, 38 colleges offer general genetics programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Genetics Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general genetics credential is the bachelor’s degree: 532 of the 799 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general genetics call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Complex Problem Solving, and for knowledge of Biology, English Language and Psychology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Deductive Reasoning and Oral Expression.
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How long a general genetics degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 532 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 91 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 176 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general genetics, at 81.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 81.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 6.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 5.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 5.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.1% |
| Some college courses | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
8 occupations are related to General Genetics, with an average median salary of $71,830; the strongest outlook belongs to Genetic Counselors, at 13.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Prenatal and Pediatric Genetic Counselor, Genetic Coordinator, Reproductive Genetic Counseling Coordinator and Mitochondrial Disorders Counselor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to general genetics, at 3,289,795.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Genetic Counselors | 3,289,795 | 13.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Biological Technicians | 224,048 | 12.8% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | 23,620 | 9.2% |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | 11,006 | 5.4% |
General Genetics graduates earn a median $43,852 one year after completing their program, $76,616 after four years and $73,410 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,852 |
| 4 years | $76,616 |
| 5 years | $73,410 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to general genetics is Biological Technicians, with a median salary of $100,160.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Biological Technicians | $100,160 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Genetic Counselors | $58,726 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
| Geneticists | $48,526 |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $41,048 |
General Genetics has 6 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 1,039 degrees a year; the largest are Human/Medical Genetics (477), Molecular Genetics (259) and Genome Sciences/Genomics (210). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Human/Medical Genetics | 477 |
| Molecular Genetics | 259 |
| Genome Sciences/Genomics | 210 |
| Animal Genetics | 58 |
| Plant Genetics | 27 |
| Genetics, Other | 8 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
