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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value Genetics Master’s Degree Schools

16 Colleges in the United States
$20,747 Avg Student Debt
$74,776 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Genetics Master's Degree Badge [Genetics](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/genetics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

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:

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2026 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

1
Stanford University crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,910. Typical student debt for genetics graduates is $10,492. Soon after graduation, genetics degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.

2
University Of Utah crest
University Of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT

A rank of #2 makes University Of Utah one of the best values for genetics. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,620 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,860. Students borrow a median of $20,798 to complete the genetics program here. Early-career genetics graduates make about $60,527. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.

3

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned it the #3 place for genetics. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,762, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Typical student debt for genetics graduates is $23,146. Early-career genetics graduates make about $56,930. Set against $23,146 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.

4

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value genetics schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete the genetics program here. Soon after graduation, genetics degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $85,029. Set against $19,137 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.

5

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Madison earned it the #5 place for genetics. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete the genetics program here. 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. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.

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6

Johns Hopkins University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value genetics schools. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Genetics graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. Genetics graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $84,850 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.

7

University Of Chicago came in at #7 for value in genetics this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete the genetics program here. 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.

8

University Of Oregon landed the #8 spot for genetics value this year. University Of Oregon is a very large public school located in the city of Eugene. Students from in state pay about $15,320 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,516. Students borrow a median of $22,034 to complete the genetics program here. Early-career genetics graduates make about $44,628. Set against $22,034 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.

9
Clemson University crest
Clemson University
Clemson, SC

Clemson University landed the #9 spot for genetics value this year. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Students borrow a median of $22,225 to complete the genetics program here. Soon after graduation, genetics degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $31,346. That is a strong return on a $22,225 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.

10

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #10 position for value in genetics this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Typical student debt for genetics graduates is $23,530. Genetics graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $58,659 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,530 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.

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11
Manchester College crest
Manchester College
North Manchester, IN

Manchester College earned the #11 position 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. Genetics graduates carry a median of $25,833 in student loans. Soon after graduation, genetics degree recipients from Manchester College generally make around $55,367. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Manchester College admits about 71% of applicants.

12
Emory University crest
Emory University
Atlanta, GA

Emory University came in at #12 for value in genetics this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,280. Typical student debt for genetics graduates is $19,431. Early-career genetics graduates make about $79,751. Set against $19,431 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.

13

Augustana College South Dakota earned the #13 position for value in genetics this year. Set in the city of Sioux Falls, Augustana College South Dakota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,160. Students borrow a median of $26,217 to complete the genetics program here. Early-career genetics graduates make about $50,088. Set against $26,217 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.

14

Long Island University C W Post Campus earned the #14 position for value in genetics this year. Located in the suburb of Brookville, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $42,432 in tuition and fees. Genetics graduates carry a median of $25,211 in student loans. Genetics graduates of Long Island University C W Post Campus earn a median of $89,484 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,211 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.

15
Yale University crest
Yale University
New Haven, CT

Yale University landed the #15 spot for genetics value this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. 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. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.

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16

University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earned the #16 position for value in genetics this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Genetics graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans. Soon after graduation, genetics degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $56,926. That is a strong return on a $24,958 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.

17
Saint Josephs University crest
Saint Josephs University
Philadelphia, PA

Saint Josephs University came in at #17 for value in genetics this year. Saint Josephs University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,260. Typical student debt for genetics graduates is $26,426. 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.

18

Southern California University Of Health Sciences landed the #18 spot for genetics value this year. Set in the suburb of Whittier, Southern California University Of Health Sciences is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,390. Genetics graduates carry a median of $20,378 in student loans. Early-career genetics graduates make about $48,442. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

19

Midwestern University Glendale ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value genetics schools. Set in the suburb of Glendale, Midwestern University Glendale is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Genetics graduates of Midwestern University Glendale earn a median of $98,281 early in their careers.

Other Genetics Degree Levels

Explore the best-value genetics schools at other degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Genetics
Associate's Degrees in Genetics
Bachelor's Degrees in Genetics
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View All Genetics Rankings >

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Notes and References

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 16 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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