2027 Best Value Genetics Master’s Degree Schools

[Genetics](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/genetics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value genetics schools.
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2027 Best Value Genetics Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in genetics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Genetics Schools
For return on investment in genetics, no school beat Stanford University this year. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,910. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the genetics program here. Genetics graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value genetics schools. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete the genetics program here. Early-career genetics graduates make about $85,029. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
University Of Chicago is a great value for students pursuing a degree in genetics, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,324. Typical student debt for genetics graduates is $15,854. Soon after graduation, genetics degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. That is a strong return on a $15,854 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Utah came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value genetics schools. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. Students borrow a median of $20,798 to complete the genetics program here. Genetics graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $60,527 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,798 median debt. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Madison earned it the #5 place for genetics. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Genetics graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Genetics graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $38,388 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Johns Hopkins University earned the #6 position for value in genetics this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,730. Genetics graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. Early-career genetics graduates make about $84,850. Set against $13,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Oregon landed the #7 spot for genetics value this year. Set in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,320, compared with $42,516 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,034 to complete the genetics program here. Early-career genetics graduates make about $44,628. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Manchester College came in at #8 for value in genetics this year. Set in the town of North Manchester, Manchester College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $37,135 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for genetics graduates is $25,833. Early-career genetics graduates make about $55,367. That is a strong return on a $25,833 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Yale University earned the #9 position for value in genetics this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,250. Genetics graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans. Genetics graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #10 position for value in genetics this year. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,929, while out-of-state students pay about $37,441. Typical student debt for genetics graduates is $26,217. Soon after graduation, genetics degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $20,373. Set against $26,217 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rutgers University New Brunswick admits about 58% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #11 spot for genetics value this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete the genetics program here. Genetics graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $58,659 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Thomas Jefferson University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value genetics schools. Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,355. Typical student debt for genetics graduates is $32,256. Early-career genetics graduates make about $64,243. That is a strong return on a $32,256 median debt. Thomas Jefferson University admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Rochester came in at #13 for value in genetics this year. Located in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,080 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,517 to complete the genetics program here. Early-career genetics graduates make about $60,865. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Rochester admits about 40% of applicants.
Saint Josephs University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value genetics schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Saint Josephs University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,260. Genetics graduates carry a median of $26,426 in student loans. Soon after graduation, genetics degree recipients from Saint Josephs University generally make around $65,421. That is a strong return on a $26,426 median debt. Saint Josephs University admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #15 among the best values for genetics. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,958 to complete the genetics program here. Genetics graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $56,926 early in their careers. Set against $24,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Long Island University C W Post Campus landed the #16 spot for genetics value this year. Long Island University C W Post Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Brookville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,432. Typical student debt for genetics graduates is $25,211. Early-career genetics graduates make about $89,484. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Southern California University Of Health Sciences came in at #17 for value in genetics this year. Southern California University Of Health Sciences is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Whittier. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,390. Students borrow a median of $20,378 to complete the genetics program here. Soon after graduation, genetics degree recipients from Southern California University Of Health Sciences generally make around $48,442. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Keck Graduate Institute earned the #18 position for value in genetics this year. Keck Graduate Institute is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. Genetics graduates carry a median of $19,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, genetics degree recipients from Keck Graduate Institute generally make around $88,109.
Other Genetics Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Genetics rankings across degree levels:
View All Genetics Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.