Best institutions to study Agricultural Animal Breeding
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 agricultural animal populations.
3 U.S. institutions graduated 31 Agricultural Animal Breeding students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 01.0902, a specialization of Animal Sciences (CIP 01.09), and leads most directly to the Animal Scientists occupation (BLS SOC 19-1011).
About Agricultural Animal Breeding programs
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 agricultural animal populations. Includes instruction in genetics, genetic engineering, population genetics, animal health, animal husbandry, and biotechnology.
See also: 26.0804 - Animal Genetics.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Agricultural Animal Breeding program, part of the Animal Sciences field, focuses on applying genetics and genetic engineering to enhance agricultural animal health and develop new breeds. This program is ideal for students interested in improving agricultural animal populations through scientific methods and innovative practices.
Students in this program will gain essential skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and scientific research. Coursework typically includes genetics, animal health, and biotechnology, providing a strong foundation for understanding the biological and management aspects of animal breeding.
Credentials awarded
What Agricultural Animal Breeding graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year24 graduates / yr · 1 institution77%
- Master's degree4 graduates / yr · 2 institutions13%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship3 graduates / yr · 2 institutions9.7%
Graduates over time
Agricultural Animal Breeding completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 18 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | 20 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 13 |
| 2025 | 31 |
Top 3 institutions for Agricultural Animal Breeding, 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 | Redlands Community College El Reno, OKPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 24 | 35% | — | — |
| 2 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 5 | 84% | — | $35,582 |
| 3 | Iowa State University Ames, IAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 2 | 75% | — | $39,567 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Animal Sciences field (CIP 01.09) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 3 states
Where Agricultural Animal Breeding graduates come from. Each state links to all Animal Sciences programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 1 | 24 | Redlands Community College24 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 5 | Texas A&M University - College Station5 / yr |
| Iowa | 1 | 2 | Iowa State University2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1011, Animal Scientists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Agricultural Animal Breeding program can pursue careers as Animal Scientists, with a median wage of $79,120. The job outlook for this field is promising, with a growth rate of 5.8% and approximately 200 annual openings. A typical education requirement is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 01.0902
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 Scientistsprimary SOC 19-1011 | $68,940 | +5.8% Faster than average | ~200 | Bachelor's degree |
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers SOC 11-9013 | $89,900 | -1.3% Decline | ~85,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Farm and Home Management Educators SOC 25-9021 | $60,220 | -2.5% Decline | ~1,100 | Master's degree |
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1041 | $98,700 | +4.1% About as fast as average | ~800 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Agricultural Animal Breeding 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
- 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.
Tools and technology used
Other Animal Sciences specializations
The 7 other 6-digit CIP codes under Animal Sciences (CIP 01.09).
- Animal SciencesCIP 01.09017,897 graduates / yr124 institutions
- Animal SciencesCIP 01.0999274 graduates / yr10 institutions
- Animal HealthCIP 01.0903partial data230 graduates / yr9 institutions
- Poultry ScienceCIP 01.0907partial data134 graduates / yr9 institutions
- Dairy ScienceCIP 01.0905121 graduates / yr14 institutions
- Livestock ManagementCIP 01.0906partial data36 graduates / yr8 institutions
- Animal NutritionCIP 01.0904limited data11 graduates / yr1 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year, a Master's degree, or a Doctor's degree in research/scholarship.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, science, writing, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as an Animal Scientist, Farmer, Rancher, or Agricultural Sciences Teacher.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a growth rate of 5.8% and around 200 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for Agricultural Animal Breeding?+
Agricultural Animal Breeding is CIP 01.0902 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Animal Sciences (CIP 01.09). NCES defines it as: 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 agricultural animal populations. Includes instruction in genetics, genetic engineering, population genetics, animal health, animal husbandry, and biotechnology.
How many institutions offer Agricultural Animal Breeding programs?+
3 U.S. institutions reported Agricultural Animal Breeding graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 3 states, awarding 31 credentials in the year. That is 0.4% of all Animal Sciences graduates.
How much do Agricultural Animal Breeding graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Animal Scientists occupation, which Agricultural Animal Breeding most directly leads to, pays a median of $68,940 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Animal Sciences field report median earnings of $39,567 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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