Best colleges for Animal Sciences in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California State University - Fresno, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona and California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo are the top bachelor's Animal Sciences programs in California by graduate earnings. California State University - Fresno leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,311, College Scorecard. University of California-Davis, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo and California State Polytechnic University - Pomona award the most Animal Sciences degrees in California: 336, 158 and 132 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 5 California colleges offer Animal Sciences and award 801 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Animal Sciences program focuses on the study of animals within the context of agricultural, veterinary, and related fields. It encompasses various specializations such as Animal Health, Dairy Science, and Livestock Management, making…
Top 5 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State University - Fresno Fresno Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,311 | 97 | 57% | — | $17,585 |
| 2 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,349 | 132 | 68% | — | $15,550 |
| 3 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,879 | 158 | 86% | — | $20,500 |
| 4 | California State University - Chico Chico Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,387 | 78 | 63% | — | $17,334 |
| 5 | University of California-Davis Davis Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,309 | 336 | 86% | — | $13,625 |
Colleges awarding the most Animal Sciences degrees in California
Top 5 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 336 | $32,309 |
| 2 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public | 158 | $33,879 |
| 3 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public | 132 | $37,349 |
| 4 | California State University - Fresno Fresno Public | 97 | $40,311 |
| 5 | California State University - Chico Chico Public | 78 | $33,387 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Animal Scientists (SOC 19-1011).
Top skills
What Animal Scientists earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Animal Sciences programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Animal Sciences degrees?+
University of California-Davis (336 graduates a year), California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo (158 graduates a year) and California State Polytechnic University - Pomona (132 graduates a year) award the most Animal Sciences degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 5 California colleges offer Animal Sciences.
What is the best college for Animal Sciences in California?+
By graduate earnings, California State University - Fresno leads among bachelor's Animal Sciences programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,311, College Scorecard. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona and California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-Davis is the largest, with 336 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Animal Sciences program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California State University - Fresno tops the list at $40,311. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
What is the focus of the Animal Sciences program?+
The Animal Sciences program focuses on the study of animals within the context of agricultural, veterinary, and related fields. It encompasses various specializations such as Animal Health, Dairy Science, and Livestock Management, making…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, writing, science, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Animal Scientists?+
The national job outlook is about +5.8% growth with around 200 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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