Best institutions to study Animal Sciences
Compare 139 U.S. colleges offering Animal Sciences by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 49 states.
Animal Sciences programs report a median of $33,926 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 01.09 and the Animal Scientists occupation (BLS SOC).
About Animal Sciences programs
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 it suitable for students interested in improving animal welfare, production, and management practices. This program is ideal for those passionate about animals and their role in agriculture and society.
Students in the Animal Sciences program gain essential skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and science. Coursework often includes topics in biology, chemistry, and nutrition, preparing graduates to understand animal needs and improve practices in feeding, housing, and health management.
Top 50 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 | University of Wisconsin - Platteville Platteville, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,956 | 36 | 56% | — | $20,875 |
| 2 | South Dakota State University Brookings, SD Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,844 | 97 | 62% | — | $23,162 |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,354 | 65 | 90% | — | $26,000 |
| 4 | Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,464 | 88 | 67% | — | $20,938 |
| 5 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,292 | 184 | 81% | — | $26,000 |
| 6 | University of Delaware Newark, DE Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,317 | 32 | 81% | — | $24,572 |
| 7 | California State University - Fresno Fresno, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,311 | 97 | 57% | — | $17,585 |
| 8 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,209 | 66 | 89% | — | $21,500 |
| 9 | University of Massachusetts - Amherst Amherst, MA Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,008 | 32 | 83% | — | $27,000 |
| 10 | Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute Wooster, OH Public · Associate degree | $39,743 | 43 | 43% | — | $12,000 |
| 11 | Iowa State University Ames, IA Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,567 | 227 | 75% | — | $21,500 |
| 12 | North Dakota State University - Main Campus Fargo, ND Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,290 | 35 | 64% | — | $23,625 |
| 13 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NE Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,064 | 91 | 67% | — | $20,981 |
| 14 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KS Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,868 | 268 | 71% | — | $22,757 |
| 15 | Delaware Valley University Doylestown, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,378 | 82 | 56% | $25,402 | $27,000 |
| 16 | University of Wisconsin - River Falls River Falls, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,852 | 136 | 57% | — | $23,183 |
| 17 | University of Maine Orono, ME Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,823 | 41 | 55% | — | $27,000 |
| 18 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CT Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,712 | 102 | 83% | — | $23,515 |
| 19 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,349 | 132 | 68% | — | $15,550 |
| 20 | SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill Cobleskill, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,068 | 107 | 42% | — | $24,000 |
| 21 | University of Idaho Moscow, ID Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,486 | 50 | 57% | — | $25,000 |
| 22 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Stillwater, OK Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,235 | 264 | 68% | — | $19,500 |
| 23 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,204 | 104 | 95% | $17,613 | $14,100 |
| 24 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,111 | 103 | 67% | — | $22,045 |
| 25 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,996 | 61 | 68% | — | $18,195 |
| 26 | Northeast Community College Norfolk, NE Public · Associate degree | $35,931 | 12 | 56% | — | — |
| 27 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,686 | 64 | 57% | — | $28,043 |
| 28 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,582 | 380 | 84% | — | $18,906 |
| 29 | University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,520 | 73 | 73% | — | $21,750 |
| 30 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,318 | 205 | 83% | — | $20,500 |
| 31 | University of Minnesota - Crookston Crookston, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,072 | 19 | 50% | — | $21,500 |
| 32 | Auburn University Auburn, AL Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,980 | 138 | 82% | — | $21,625 |
| 33 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,933 | 326 | 69% | — | $21,369 |
| 34 | Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,876 | 19 | 54% | — | $23,000 |
| 35 | University of Wyoming Laramie, WY Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,875 | 55 | 59% | — | $23,250 |
| 36 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,678 | 137 | 75% | — | $19,500 |
| 37 | The University of Findlay Findlay, OH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,595 | 29 | 58% | $23,128 | $26,000 |
| 38 | University of Vermont Burlington, VT Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,467 | 86 | 79% | — | $24,250 |
| 39 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,073 | 100 | 85% | — | $19,500 |
| 40 | Sam Houston State University Huntsville, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,051 | 113 | 55% | — | $21,745 |
| 41 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,926 | 82 | 84% | — | $25,169 |
| 42 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,879 | 158 | 86% | — | $20,500 |
| 43 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,788 | 34 | 54% | — | $18,415 |
| 44 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,675 | 29 | 58% | — | $19,687 |
| 45 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,642 | 126 | 88% | — | $23,301 |
| 46 | California State University - Chico Chico, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,387 | 78 | 63% | — | $17,334 |
| 47 | Texas State University San Marcos, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,358 | 73 | 55% | — | $21,662 |
| 48 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,332 | 234 | 85% | — | $22,689 |
| 49 | University of New Hampshire - Main Campus Durham, NH Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,213 | 35 | 76% | — | $27,000 |
| 50 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,182 | 94 | 86% | — | $26,000 |
Offered across 49 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1011, Animal Scientists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Animal Sciences program can pursue careers in various fields, with a projected job growth rate of 5.8% and approximately 200 annual openings. Median wages for professionals in this area are around $79,120, and a typical education requirement is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Animal Sciences
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 01.09.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 01.09 (Animal Sciences) maps to 6 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9013 | Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers |
| 19-1011 | Animal Scientistsprimary |
| 19-4012 | Agricultural Technicians |
| 25-1041 | Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-9021 | Farm and Home Management Educators |
| 45-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Animal Sciences 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
- Study nutritional requirements of animals and nutritive values of animal feed materials.
- Write up or orally communicate research findings to the scientific community, producers, and the public.
- Develop improved practices in feeding, housing, sanitation, or parasite and disease control of animals.
- Advise producers about improved products and techniques that could enhance their animal production efforts.
- Conduct research concerning animal nutrition, breeding, or management to improve products or processes.
- Study effects of management practices, processing methods, feed, or environmental conditions on quality and quantity of animal products, such as eggs and milk.
Concentrations within Animal Sciences
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Animal Sciences, GeneralCIP 01.0901
A general program that focuses on the scientific principles that underlie the breeding and husbandry of agricultural animals, and the production, processing, and distribution of agricultural animal pr
- Agricultural Animal BreedingCIP 01.0902
A program that focuses on the application of genetics and genetic engineering to the improvement of agricultural animal health, the development of new animal breeds, and the selective improvement of a
- Animal HealthCIP 01.0903
A program that focuses on the application of biological and chemical principles to the study, prevention, and control of diseases in agricultural animal populations
- Animal NutritionCIP 01.0904
A program that focuses on the biology and chemistry of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, water, vitamins, and feed additives as related to animal health and the production of improved animal products
- Dairy ScienceCIP 01.0905
A program that focuses on the application of biological and chemical principles to the production and management of dairy animals and the production and handling of dairy products
- Livestock ManagementCIP 01.0906
A program that focuses on the application of biological and chemical principles to the production and management of livestock animals and the production and handling of meat and other products
- Poultry ScienceCIP 01.0907
A program that focuses on the application of biological and chemical principles to the production and management of poultry animals and the production and handling of poultry products
- Animal Sciences, OtherCIP 01.0999
Any instructional program in the animal sciences not listed above.
Common questions
What specializations are available in Animal Sciences?+
Specializations include Animal Sciences, Agricultural Animal Breeding, Animal Health, Animal Nutrition, Dairy Science, Livestock Management, and Poultry Science.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, science, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for Animal Sciences graduates?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a growth rate of 5.8% and about 200 annual job openings.
What level of education do I need for a career in Animal Sciences?+
A Bachelor's degree is typically required for careers in this field.
How much do Animal Sciences graduates earn?+
Animal Sciences graduates report median earnings of $33,926 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Animal Scientists occupation pays about $88,350 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Animal Sciences?+
Animal Sciences maps to CIP 01.09 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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