Best institutions to study Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming
A program that prepares individuals to provide cosmetic services for household pets, show animals, work animals and animal athletes.
11 U.S. institutions graduated 408 Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 01.0504, a specialization of Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services (CIP 01.05), and leads most directly to the Animal Caretakers occupation (BLS SOC 39-2021).
About Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming programs
A program that prepares individuals to provide cosmetic services for household pets, show animals, work animals and animal athletes. Includes instruction in skin, coat, and pelt grooming and styling; skin care; hoof, nail, and claw care; animal massage; minor first aid and veterinary referral; animal grooming products and applications; health and safety; and applicable regulations.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming program, part of Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services, prepares individuals to provide essential grooming services for various animals, including household pets and show animals. This program is ideal for those passionate about animal care and looking to develop their skills in a rewarding field focused on the well-being of animals.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in skin, coat, and pelt grooming, as well as skin care and animal massage. Coursework also covers health and safety regulations, grooming products, and minor first aid, equipping graduates with the practical skills needed for effective animal care.
Credentials awarded
What Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years227 graduates / yr · 5 institutions56%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year170 graduates / yr · 8 institutions42%
- Associate's degree11 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.7%
Graduates over time
Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 126 |
| 2013 | 116 |
| 2014 | 133 |
| 2015 | 73 |
| 2016 | 122 |
| 2017 | 129 |
| 2018 | 154 |
| 2019 | 172 |
| 2020 | 220 |
| 2021 | 277 |
| 2022 | 351 |
| 2023 | 428 |
| 2024 | 519 |
| 2025 | 408 |
Top 11 institutions for Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PPG Technical College Caguas, PRPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 92 | 64% | $7,344 | $6,481 |
| 2 | Merryfield Academy Oakland Park, FLPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 89 | 78% | $10,056 | $24,819 |
| 3 | NUC University Bayamon, PRPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 75 | 54% | $9,377 | — |
| 4 | Liceo de Arte y Tecnologia San Juan, PRPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 40 | 63% | $20,142 | — |
| 5 | Universal Technology College of Puerto Rico Aguadilla, PRPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 29 | 64% | $7,083 | — |
| 6 | CEM College - San Juan San Juan, PRPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 24 | 86% | $12,761 | — |
| 7 | CEM College - Humacao Humacao, PRPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 19 | 38% | $11,347 | — |
| 8 | Pets Playground Grooming School Pompano Beach, FLPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 19 | — | — | — |
| 9 | North Shore Community College Danvers, MAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 13 | 18% | — | — |
| 10 | Volunteer State Community College Gallatin, TNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 28% | — | — |
| 11 | International Academy South Daytona, FLPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 48% | $19,460 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services field (CIP 01.05) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 4 states & territories
Where Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming graduates come from. Each state links to all Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | 6 | 279 | PPG Technical College92 / yr |
| Florida | 3 | 110 | Merryfield Academy89 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 13 | North Shore Community College13 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 6 | Volunteer State Community College6 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 39-2021, Animal Caretakers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming program can pursue careers as Animal Caretakers or in related fields. With an annual job growth rate of 12.1% and approximately 74,600 openings each year, this field offers promising opportunities. The median wage for these positions is around $33,470, typically requiring a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 01.0504
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Animal Caretakersprimary SOC 39-2021 | $35,360 | +12.1% Much faster than average | ~74,600 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1194 | $63,820 | +0.7% Little or no change | ~8,800 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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.
Tools and technology used
Other Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services specializations
The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services (CIP 01.05).
- Equestrian/CIP 01.0507
Equine Studies 573 graduates / yr47 institutions - Animal TrainingCIP 01.0505partial data164 graduates / yr5 institutions
- Agricultural and Domestic Animal ServicesCIP 01.0599partial data32 graduates / yr3 institutions
- Taxidermy/CIP 01.0508
Taxidermist limited data12 graduates / yr1 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Farrier Science01.0509
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
See all Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services programs →
Common questions
What types of animals will I learn to groom?+
You will learn to groom household pets, show animals, work animals, and animal athletes.
How long does the program take to complete?+
The program can be completed in as little as 12 weeks, or up to 2 academic years.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in monitoring, active listening, critical thinking, and customer service.
What career opportunities are available after graduation?+
You can work as an Animal Caretaker or pursue roles in related fields with strong job growth.
What is the CIP code for Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming?+
Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming is CIP 01.0504 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services (CIP 01.05). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to provide cosmetic services for household pets, show animals, work animals and animal athletes. Includes instruction in skin, coat, and pelt grooming and styling; skin care; hoof, nail, and claw care; animal massage; minor first aid and veterinary referral; animal grooming products and applications; health and safety; and applicable regulations.
How many institutions offer Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming programs?+
11 U.S. institutions reported Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 4 states & territories, awarding 408 credentials in the year. That is 34.3% of all Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services graduates.
How much do Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Animal Caretakers occupation, which Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming most directly leads to, pays a median of $35,360 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services field report median earnings of $24,819 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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