by our College Data Analytics Team
[Genetics](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/genetics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 104 schools to find the best return on investment for genetics students.
What’s on this page:
The right genetics school can pay off for years to come. That is why we built our Best Value Genetics Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Genetics Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in genetics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Stanford University earned the #1 spot for value among genetics schools in the United States. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,910. Typical student debt for genetics graduates is $10,492. Early-career genetics graduates make about $100,827. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the best values for genetics. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Genetics graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans. Genetics graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $65,681 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Utah earned it the #3 place for genetics. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,620, while out-of-state students pay about $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of California Irvine one of the best values for genetics. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,752, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,539 to complete the genetics program here. Early-career genetics graduates make about $50,958. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 29%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned it the #5 place for genetics. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,762 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Students borrow a median of $23,146 to complete the genetics program here. Early-career genetics graduates make about $56,930. Set against $23,146 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
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Purdue University Main Campus earned the #6 position for value in genetics this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for genetics graduates is $15,000. Genetics graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $39,052 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 50%.
University Of Georgia placed #7 among the best values for genetics. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Students borrow a median of $20,375 to complete the genetics program here. Early-career genetics graduates make about $19,112. Set against $20,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #8 among the best values for genetics. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Genetics graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans. Genetics graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $85,029 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,137 median debt. The acceptance rate is 16%.
University Of California Davis earned the #9 position for value in genetics this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, with out-of-state students paying around $47,692. Students borrow a median of $14,293 to complete the genetics program here. Early-career genetics graduates make about $41,334. Set against $14,293 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Washington State University landed the #10 spot for genetics value this year. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. In-state tuition and fees average $13,391, with out-of-state students paying around $29,950. Genetics graduates carry a median of $21,903 in student loans. Genetics graduates of Washington State University earn a median of $54,697 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,903 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value genetics schools. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, 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. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Johns Hopkins University earned the #12 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. In-state tuition and fees average $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.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #13 position for value in genetics this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for genetics graduates is $22,968. Genetics graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $59,622 early in their careers. Set against $22,968 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri State University Springfield placed #14 among the best values for genetics. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,502 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Genetics graduates carry a median of $24,408 in student loans. Genetics graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $46,503 early in their careers. Set against $24,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Chicago came in at #15 for value in genetics this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Typical student debt for genetics graduates is $15,854. Genetics graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #16 for value in genetics this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for genetics graduates is $21,216. Early-career genetics graduates make about $31,800. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value genetics schools. Set in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,098, compared with $22,562 for out-of-state students. Genetics graduates carry a median of $26,162 in student loans. Genetics graduates of University Of Alabama At Birmingham earn a median of $55,413 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Alabama At Birmingham admits about 88% of applicants.
Iowa State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value genetics schools. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Typical student debt for genetics graduates is $21,631. Early-career genetics graduates make about $33,330. That is a strong return on a $21,631 median debt. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of Iowa landed the #19 spot for genetics value this year. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Genetics graduates carry a median of $24,463 in student loans. Genetics graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $57,375 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value genetics schools. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Typical student debt for genetics graduates is $18,500. Soon after graduation, genetics degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $31,519. That is a strong return on a $18,500 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Washington University In St Louis came in at #21 for value in genetics this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,790. Typical student debt for genetics graduates is $17,553. Genetics graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $68,303 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Oregon placed #22 among the best values for genetics. Located in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,320, while out-of-state students pay about $42,516. Typical student debt for genetics graduates is $22,034. Early-career genetics graduates make about $44,628. That is a strong return on a $22,034 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Michigan State University landed the #23 spot for genetics value this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Students borrow a median of $25,125 to complete the genetics program here. Soon after graduation, genetics degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $26,713. That is a strong return on a $25,125 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Connecticut landed the #24 spot for genetics value this year. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. Students from in state pay about $21,044 in tuition and fees, compared with $43,712 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,637 to complete the genetics program here. Early-career genetics graduates make about $58,784. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Connecticut admits about 52% of applicants.
Manchester College earned the #25 position for value in genetics this year. Manchester College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of North Manchester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,135. Typical student debt for genetics graduates is $25,833. Early-career genetics graduates make about $55,367. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
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Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Genetics. Browse the parent area of study.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Genetics, General | 596 |
| Human/Medical Genetics | 315 |
| Molecular Genetics | 235 |
| Genome Sciences/Genomics | 162 |
| Animal Genetics | 54 |
| Plant Genetics | 32 |
| Genetics, Other | 11 |
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 104 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 36 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.