Best institutions to study Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services
Compare 65 U.S. colleges offering Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 25 states.
Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services programs report a median of $30,545 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 01.05 and the Animal Caretakers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services programs
The Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services program focuses on the care, management, and training of various animals, including pets and livestock. This program is ideal for individuals passionate about animal welfare and seeking a career in veterinary science or animal services. Students will gain hands-on experience and knowledge applicable to various animal-related fields.
Learn more about Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services →
Students in this program will develop essential skills such as monitoring animal health, providing treatment, and understanding animal behavior. Coursework covers topics like animal grooming, training, and facility management, ensuring a well-rounded education in animal care.
Top 9 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Centenary University Hackettstown, NJ Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,104 | 21 | 56% | $17,490 | $23,250 |
| 2 | Midway University Midway, KY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,696 | 24 | 41% | $23,658 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,881 | 47 | 67% | — | $24,066 |
| 4 | West Texas A & M University Canyon, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,362 | 11 | 55% | — | $21,559 |
| 5 | William Woods University Fulton, MO Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $30,545 | 13 | 47% | $22,203 | $26,406 |
| 6 | Johnson & Wales University - Providence Providence, RI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,363 | 6 | 55% | $31,634 | — |
| 7 | Merryfield Academy Oakland Park, FL Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $24,819 | 89 | 78% | $10,056 | $6,333 |
| 8 | The University of Findlay Findlay, OH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $22,211 | 37 | 58% | $23,128 | $26,000 |
| 9 | PPG Technical College Caguas, PR Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $6,481 | 92 | 64% | $7,344 | — |
Offered across 25 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
| State | Institutions | Median earnings | Top institution by earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jerseylimited | 1 | $34,104 | Centenary University |
| Kentucky | 3 | $33,696 | Midway University |
| Colorado | 4 | $31,881 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins |
| Texas | 4 | $31,362 | West Texas A & M University |
| Missouri | 3 | $30,545 | William Woods University |
| Rhode Islandlimited | 1 | $27,363 | Johnson & Wales University - Providence |
| Florida | 4 | $24,819 | Merryfield Academy |
| Ohio | 8 | $22,211 | The University of Findlay |
| Puerto Rico | 6 | $6,481 | PPG Technical College |
| Arizonalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Connecticutlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Georgialimited | 1 | — | — |
| Illinoislimited | 2 | — | — |
| Indianalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Maine | 3 | — | — |
| Massachusettslimited | 1 | — | — |
| Montana | 3 | — | — |
| New Mexicolimited | 1 | — | — |
| New York | 3 | — | — |
| North Carolina | 3 | — | — |
| North Dakotalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | — | — |
| Tennesseelimited | 1 | — | — |
| Virginialimited | 2 | — | — |
| Wyoming | 4 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 39-2021, Animal Caretakers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services program can pursue careers in various fields, including animal grooming, training, and equestrian studies. The job outlook is promising, with a projected growth rate of 12.1% and approximately 74,600 annual openings. The median wage for positions in this field is around $33,470, typically requiring a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 01.05.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 01.05 (Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services) maps to 4 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 25-1041 | Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-1194 | Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 39-2011 | Animal Trainers |
| 39-2021 | Animal Caretakersprimary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Feed and water animals according to schedules and feeding instructions.
- Provide treatment to sick or injured animals, or contact veterinarians to secure treatment.
- Examine and observe animals to detect signs of illness, disease, or injury.
- Mix food, liquid formulas, medications, or food supplements according to instructions, prescriptions, and knowledge of animal species.
- Do facility laundry and clean, organize, maintain, and disinfect animal quarters, such as pens and stables, and equipment, such as saddles and bridles.
- Exercise animals to maintain their physical and mental health.
Concentrations within Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Dog/Pet/Animal GroomingCIP 01.0504
A program that prepares individuals to provide cosmetic services for household pets, show animals, work animals and animal athletes
- Animal TrainingCIP 01.0505
A program that prepares individuals to teach and exercise animals for leisure, sport, show, and professional purposes
- Equestrian/Equine StudiesCIP 01.0507
A program that focuses on the horse, horsemanship, and related subjects and prepares individuals to care for horses and horse equipment; ride and drive horses for leisure, sport, show, and professiona
- Taxidermy/TaxidermistCIP 01.0508
A program that prepares individuals to reproduce life-like three-dimensional representations of living animals for permanent display using elements of the deceased specimen(s) as well as artificial ma
- Farrier ScienceCIP 01.0509
A program of study that prepares individuals to become specialists in equine hoof care (farriers)
- Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services, OtherCIP 01.0599
Any instructional program in agricultural and domestic animal services not listed above.
Common questions
What types of animals will I work with?+
You will work with both domestic pets and agricultural animals, gaining experience in various animal care practices.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in monitoring animal health, active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What career opportunities are available after graduation?+
Career opportunities include roles in animal grooming, training, equestrian studies, and veterinary assistance.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is strong, with a growth rate of 12.1% and about 74,600 annual job openings.
How much do Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services graduates earn?+
Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services graduates report median earnings of $30,545 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Animal Caretakers occupation pays about $37,300 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services?+
Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services maps to CIP 01.05 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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