by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 16 U.S. colleges awarded 259 degrees and certificates in Molecular Genetics. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 63% of graduates. College Factual ranks 7 schools in its 2027 Best Molecular 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 degree in Molecular Genetics explores Molecular Genetics. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Genetic Structures And Mechanisms Of Organisms, Including Bacteria, Phages, And Viruses. Includes Instruction In The Replication, Expression, Transfer, Structure, Maintenance, And Stability Of Heritable Information In Dna, Rna, And Proteins; The Regulation Of These Processes; And Neurogenetics. Examples: [Neurogenetics], [Proteomics], [Protein Expression].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, molecular genetics is a popular field of study, with 259 degrees awarded annually. 16 colleges award molecular genetics degrees, an average of 16 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 62.
By level, the 259 awards include 163 bachelor’s degrees, 31 master’s degrees and 65 doctorates.
Women earned 64% of molecular genetics degrees and certificates in the latest year (167 of 259). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (140) and Asian (55), and international students earned 26.
College Factual ranks 7 schools in its 2027 Best Molecular Genetics Schools ranking, including 3 for bachelor’s degrees, 1 for master’s degrees and 4 for doctorates. It also ranks molecular genetics schools within 6 states. In all, 16 colleges offer molecular genetics programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Molecular Genetics Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common molecular genetics credential is the bachelor’s degree: 163 of the 259 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to molecular genetics call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Writing, and for knowledge of Biology, English Language 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 molecular genetics degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 163 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 31 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 65 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to molecular genetics, at 72.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 72.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 11.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 6.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 5.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.3% |
| Some college courses | 1.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
10 occupations are related to Molecular Genetics, with an average median salary of $89,736; the strongest outlook belongs to Genetic Counselors, at 13.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Mitochondrial Disorders Counselor, Medical Science Liaison, Genetic Counseling Medical Specialist and Genetic Counselor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to molecular genetics, at 3,289,795.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Genetic Counselors | 3,289,795 | 13.4% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
Molecular 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 molecular genetics is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Genetic Counselors | $58,726 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
Molecular Genetics has 6 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 1,579 degrees a year; the largest are Genetics, General (799), Human/Medical Genetics (477) 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 |
| Human/Medical Genetics | 477 |
| Genome Sciences/Genomics | 210 |
| Animal Genetics | 58 |
| Plant Genetics | 27 |
| Genetics, Other | 8 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
