by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying 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. Continue reading for the important information every general genetics major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general genetics programs.
Across the country, general genetics is a popular field of study, with 730 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Genetics Schools ranking analyzes these 37 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general genetics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general genetics programs later in this article.
Programs in General Genetics emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general genetics graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a general genetics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a general genetics major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general genetics degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 474 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 88 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 168 |
People currently working in careers related to general genetics tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| 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% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general genetics careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying general genetics can lead to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to general genetics.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general genetics.
| 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% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of general genetics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,852 |
| 4 years | $57,533 |
| 5 years | $73,410 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for general genetics graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general genetics grads often go into.
| 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 |
With 37 different general genetics programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general genetics school rankings to help you.
Those considering general genetics, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Human/Medical Genetics | 424 |
| Molecular Genetics | 278 |
| Genome Sciences/Genomics | 199 |
| Animal Genetics | 59 |
| Plant Genetics | 32 |
| Genetics, Other | 11 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
