by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 40 U.S. colleges awarded 477 degrees and certificates in Human/Medical Genetics. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 74% of graduates. College Factual ranks 14 schools in its 2027 Best Human/Medical 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.
A major in Human/Medical Genetics explores Human/medical Genetics. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Human Genetics From The Standpoint Of Medical Applications Such As Clinical Diagnosis, Genetic Engineering And Therapy, Transplantation, And The Study Of Genetic Diseases And Disabilities And Their Defense. Includes Instruction In Human Molecular Genetics; Genetic Factors Causing Disease; Changes In Gene Expression During Development, Differentiation, And Pathogenesis; Recombinant Dna; Gene Therapy; Clinical Genetics; Genetic Epidemiology; Immunogenetics; Cytogenetics; And Genetics Of Specific Disorders And Diseases.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., human/medical genetics is a widely-pursued major, with 477 degrees awarded annually. 40 colleges award human/medical genetics degrees, an average of 12 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 46.
By level, the 477 awards include 1 bachelor’s degrees, 351 master’s degrees and 125 doctorates.
Women earned 79% of human/medical genetics degrees and certificates in the latest year (375 of 477). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (287) and Asian (51), and international students earned 45.
College Factual ranks 14 schools in its 2027 Best Human/Medical Genetics Schools ranking, including 9 for master’s degrees and 4 for doctorates. It also ranks human/medical genetics schools within 9 states. In all, 40 colleges offer human/medical genetics programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Human/Medical Genetics Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common human/medical genetics credential is the master’s degree: 351 of the 477 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to human/medical genetics call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Complex Problem Solving, and for knowledge of Biology, Psychology and Medicine and Dentistry, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Deductive Reasoning and Oral Expression.
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How long a human/medical genetics degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 351 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 125 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to human/medical genetics, at 90.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 90.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 5.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 3.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 0.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Human/Medical Genetics, with an average median salary of $70,363; the strongest outlook belongs to Genetic Counselors, at 13.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Genetics Counselor, Prenatal and Pediatric Genetic Counselor, Certified Genetic Counselor and Genetic Counselor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to human/medical 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% |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 125,815 | 8.9% |
Human/Medical 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 human/medical genetics is Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists, with a median salary of $111,314.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Genetic Counselors | $58,726 |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $41,048 |
Human/Medical Genetics has 6 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 1,361 degrees a year; the largest are Genetics, General (799), 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 |
|---|---|
| Genetics, General | 799 |
| Molecular Genetics | 259 |
| Genome Sciences/Genomics | 210 |
| Animal Genetics | 58 |
| Plant Genetics | 27 |
| Genetics, Other | 8 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
