Genetics: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 12 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Negative payoff
−$67,437 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
With these assumptions, the added earnings do not recover the cost within ten years.
13.6 yrsModeled economic break-even
−26%Modeled 10-year ROI
$63,767Observed earnings · year 4
$1,918Maximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
The price benchmark would need to fall by $16,859 per year to reach it.
Includes direct price and earnings forgone while studying. Assumes $45,000 in alternative annual earnings and no wage growth. How we calculate itObserved national outcomes
$63,767Median reported earnings · year 4
$67,759Average reported earnings · year 5
$21,424Median federal debt
52thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
9With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 2 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
CURRENT VIEW
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $63,767
- Federal debt
- $21,424
- Reporting programs
- 12
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $102,913
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $108,629
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$55,404National median$63,76775th percentile$77,411
9 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
12 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of New Hampshire-Main Campus$87,6082Rutgers University-New Brunswick$83,4843University of California, Davis$77,4114University of Wisconsin-Madison$68,4025Ohio State University-Main Campus$63,7676Texas A&M University-College Station$61,7517Michigan State University$55,4048North Carolina State University at Raleigh$55,3199Iowa State University$55,03710University of GeorgiaNot availableObserved year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →15%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$84,620 median wage50,190 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1042+7.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 4.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$52,150–$169,900 10th–90th percentileBiological Scientists, All Other$98,920 median wage55,850 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-1029+4.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 4.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$60,430–$168,010 10th–90th percentileNatural Sciences Managers$167,220 median wage108,690 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9121+8.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 9.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$79,710–$316,850 10th–90th percentileGenetic Counselors$100,040 median wage3,740 U.S. jobs · SOC 29-9092+10.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Master's degree$78,270–$138,760 10th–90th percentileMedical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$103,410 median wage172,340 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-1042+12.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 10.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$64,800–$177,780 10th–90th percentileBiological Technicians$57,510 median wage69,620 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-4021+7.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 9.4k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$40,330–$84,940 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of New Hampshire-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Durham, NH | $87,608 | $26,994 | +55% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | $83,484 | $26,217 | +39% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | University of California, DavisBachelor's Degree | Davis, CA | $77,411 | $14,293 | +36% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonBachelor's Degree | Madison, WI | $68,402 | $20,000 | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Ohio State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $63,767 | $21,216 | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $61,751 | $18,500 | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Michigan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | East Lansing, MI | $55,404 | $25,125 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | North Carolina State University at RaleighBachelor's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $55,319 | $22,968 | -59% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Iowa State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ames, IA | $55,037 | $21,631 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | University of GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Athens, GA | Not available | $20,375 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $13,936 |
| 11 | Clemson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Clemson, SC | Not available | $22,225 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $22,253 |
| 12 | Purdue University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | Not available | $15,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $14,600 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.