Genetics is a booming field. With the explosion of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, agricultural technology, and other biological research, the opportunities for genetics majors are endless. A degree in genetics can enable you to work on projects that can improve the lives of millions.
Genetics is a field that fascinates thousands of students across the country. By studying genetics, students learn how evolution impacts the minute processes in our bodies. Epigenetics, genetic engineering, and the genetics of disease are just a small number of subjects genetics majors have the privilege of studying.
However, many colleges do not offer genetics as an undergraduate major. This can be frustrating, especially if genetics is your primary interest. Some schools’ life sciences departments have a greater focus on other aspects of biology—such as molecular biology, ecology, or neuroscience.
Being able to find a college with a strong genetics program will enable you to gain the experience necessary to succeed in the competitive genetics job market. A school with a strong genetics program will provide you with ample research and internship opportunities. These will be geared towards learning the specific technologies and skills that will shine on your resume.
This article contains a list of colleges with strong undergraduate genetics programs. If you’re stumped on which schools best suit your needs, perhaps this list can put you on the right track.
University of California - Davis
UC Davis is a public research university located in Davis, California, about an hour’s car ride outside of San Francisco. It has an acceptance rate of 37%, making it quite competitive—although California residents enjoy a 65% acceptance rate. UC Davis has a population of 35,000 students.
UC Davis offers a genetics and genomics major in its school of biological sciences. For the major, students gain a strong basis in biology, chemistry, math, and physics. They also have access to a large number of laboratory courses, allowing them to build their practical skills.
UC Davis contains a veterinary genetics lab. Working in this lab can provide students with an interest in animal genetics to gain critical research skills.
University of California - Irvine
UC Irvine is a public research university in Irvine, California, located 50 minutes south of Los Angeles. UC Irvine is very competitive with an acceptance rate of 21%. It has a large population of 33,000 students.
UC Irvine offers a B.S in genetics. Genetics majors have a wide plethora of biology courses to choose from. UC Irvine offers 15 laboratory classes—a crazy amount!—in subjects ranging from the biology of birds to immunology. These courses give students the opportunity to pursue hands-on research in any area they’re interested in.
Students are also encouraged to take part in an independent research course called BIO SCI 199. This research is conducted either independently or under the supervision of a professor.
University of Wisconsin - Madison
The University of Wisconsin - Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, an hour away from Milwaukee. It is competitive with an acceptance rate of 49%. University of Wisconsin-Madison has a population of just under 50,000 students.
University of Wisconsin-Madison offers a genetics and genomics major. The major offers the students opportunities to study a wide breadth of subjects—such as human, plant, and population genetics. The major also offers courses studying more molecular processes, like neurogenetics.
University of Wisconsin-Madison offers students ample opportunities to work in research labs. There are hundreds of labs around campus that students can ask to work with. Most often, students find lab work at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the School of Medicine and Public Health, and the College of Engineering.
Rutgers University - New Brunswick
Rutgers University-New Brunswick is a research University located in New Brunswick and Piscataway, New Jersey, which is an hour outside of New York City. Rutgers University-New Brunswick has an acceptance rate of 66%, making it slightly competitive. It has a student population of 37,000.
Rutgers offers a major in genetics. Students enjoy education in both biological genetics and computational genetics, as well as small classrooms which foster individualized learning. For students seeking a pre-med path, genetics majors at Rutgers have the highest acceptance rates to medical school of any biology major, at 88% as of 2023.
All genetics majors at Rutgers are required to undergo research experience in order to graduate. Students looking to join a lab are able to access a list of all genetics labs seeking undergraduate students. This is helpful, as many other universities do not provide such a list, and students are left guessing which labs they can apply to.
Ohio State University
Ohio State University is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It is slightly selective with an acceptance rate of 53%. Ohio State has a student population of over 66,000.
Ohio State offers an undergraduate major in molecular genetics. The program explores genetics from the molecular to the population level, giving students the opportunity to study fungi, plants, human beings, and ecosystems.
Students of genetics can potentially receive a combined BS/MS degree—meaning that, in five years, students are able to receive a master’s degree. After receiving their degree, students often go on to study dentistry, medicine, and veterinary medicine, as well as genetic research.
Purdue University
Purdue University is a public research university located in West Lafayette, Indiana, an hour outside of Indianapolis. It is slightly selective with an acceptance rate of 53%. Purdue University boasts a population of over 41,000 students.
Purdue University offers a BS in genetics. The curriculum is especially geared towards the molecular components of genetics, with many courses required in chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology. Students must also take calculus and physics.
Students also have the opportunity to meet certain core curriculum requirements through approved experiential learning programs.
Texas A&M
Texas A&M is a public research university located in College Station, Texas, which is equidistant from Houston and Dallas. It is slightly selective with an acceptance rate of 63%. Texas A&M is a huge school with a population of almost 75,000 students.
Texas A&M offers a BS in genetics. Students at A&M have very structured schedules—prospective students are given a list of which classes they must take for every semester in order to complete the major. These include biology, chemistry, physics, statistics, computing, and research.
In the spring of their junior year, students enroll in the research lab GENE 491, and the following semester they enroll in a laboratory in molecular genetics.
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, which is an hour away from Atlanta. It is a selective college with a 43% acceptance rate. University of Georgia has a student population of over 37,000 students.
UGA offers an undergraduate major in its Department of Genetics. Students at UGA can expect to have a large number of laboratory opportunities open to them. Students take 2 lab courses in their freshman or sophomore year. UGA encourages students to undertake independent research with faculty, where they will be working on cutting-edge research and have the ability to co-author papers.
UGA students who apply to medical schools have a strong record of getting into top universities.
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university located in East Lansing, Michigan, an hour outside of Detroit. It is not very selective and has an acceptance rate of 88%. Michigan State has a student population of over 50,000.
Michigan State offers a genomics and molecular genetics undergraduate program. Students who graduate from this program can apply for certification with the National Registry of Microbiologists of the American Society for Microbiology. Students are given broad training in chemistry, math, biology, and physics
Students are encouraged to participate in a research project for two or more semesters. Research culminates in a scientific manuscript written by the student.
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University is a public research University in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is selective with an acceptance rate of 47%. North Carolina state has a student population of over 34,000, the largest in North Carolina.
North Carolina State offers a BS in genetics. Students receive a strong basis in biology, math, chemistry, but the curriculum also has a social focus. North Carolina State emphasizes public service and engagement with the community through its genetics outreach program. The goal of this program is to make genetics and genomics accessible to the public.
Students from this program go on to a variety of careers. These include medical school, dentistry, veterinary school, genetic counseling, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals.
Looking to study genetics?
When looking for a place to study genetics, there’s no shortage of great options. Almost all colleges offering a genetics program place a strong emphasis on research, and they make sure every student is able to have some kind of research experience.
