by our College Data Analytics Team
[Genetics](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/genetics/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find where genetics graduates earn the most.
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Below are the schools whose genetics graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked University Of Wisconsin Madison the top school for genetics graduate earnings in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. Early-career genetics graduates from University Of Wisconsin Madison make a median of around $68,301 per year.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying genetics schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Columbus. Genetics graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of about $62,758 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes Michigan State University one of the highest-paying schools for genetics. Michigan State University is a public school located in the city of East Lansing. After graduating, genetics degree recipients from Michigan State University typically earn about $59,887 annually.
Purdue University Main Campus produces some of the highest-paid graduates in genetics, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the genetics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $39,052.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their genetics graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 4 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.