Best institutions to study Animal Health
A program that focuses on the application of biological and chemical principles to the study, prevention, and control of diseases in agricultural animal populations.
9 U.S. institutions graduated 230 Animal Health students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 01.0903, a specialization of Animal Sciences (CIP 01.09), and leads most directly to the Animal Scientists occupation (BLS SOC 19-1011).
About Animal Health programs
A program that focuses on the application of biological and chemical principles to the study, prevention, and control of diseases in agricultural animal populations. Includes instruction in environmental science, pharmacology, animal population studies, genetics, animal physiology and diet, disease prevention, treatment methodologies, and laboratory and testing procedures.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Animal Health program, part of the broader Animal Sciences field, focuses on the application of biological and chemical principles to study, prevent, and control diseases in agricultural animal populations. This program is designed for students interested in veterinary science and animal health management, providing a comprehensive understanding of animal physiology, genetics, and disease prevention strategies.
Students in the Animal Health program will acquire essential skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and scientific writing. Coursework typically covers topics such as animal nutrition, pharmacology, and environmental science, equipping graduates with the knowledge needed to address challenges in animal health and production.
Credentials awarded
What Animal Health graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree93 graduates / yr · 3 institutions40%
- Master's degree84 graduates / yr · 3 institutions37%
- Associate's degree28 graduates / yr · 3 institutions12%
- Post-master's certificate13 graduates / yr · 1 institution5.7%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate12 graduates / yr · 1 institution5.2%
Graduates over time
Animal Health completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 38 |
| 2013 | 43 |
| 2014 | 38 |
| 2015 | 31 |
| 2016 | 37 |
| 2017 | 40 |
| 2018 | 38 |
| 2019 | 29 |
| 2020 | 44 |
| 2021 | 20 |
| 2022 | 21 |
| 2023 | 130 |
| 2024 | 137 |
| 2025 | 230 |
Top 9 institutions for Animal Health, 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 | Murray State University Murray, KYPublicBachelor's | 70 | 61% | — | — |
| 2 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, ILPublicMaster's | 56 | 85% | — | $30,187 |
| 3 | Morehead State University Morehead, KYPublicBachelor'sAssociate's | 36 | 52% | — | — |
| 4 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TXPublicMaster's | 27 | 69% | — | $34,933 |
| 5 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KSPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 25 | 71% | — | $38,868 |
| 6 | Harcum College Bryn Mawr, PAPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 10 | 44% | $27,244 | $27,932 |
| 7 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicBachelor's | 3 | 90% | — | $31,769 |
| 8 | Western Oklahoma State College Altus, OKPublicAssociate's | 2 | 31% | — | — |
| 9 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NEPublicMaster's | 1 | 67% | — | $39,064 |
* 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 8 states
Where Animal Health graduates come from. Each state links to all Animal Sciences programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 2 | 106 | Murray State University70 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 56 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign56 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 27 | Texas Tech University27 / yr |
| Kansas | 1 | 25 | Kansas State University25 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 10 | Harcum College10 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 3 | University of Georgia3 / yr |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 2 | Western Oklahoma State College2 / yr |
| Nebraska | 1 | 1 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1011, Animal Scientists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Animal Health program can pursue careers as Animal Scientists, with an expected job growth rate of 5.8% and approximately 200 annual openings. The median wage for this profession is $79,120, and a Bachelor's degree is typically required for entry-level positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 01.0903
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 |
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 Animal Health 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
- Poultry ScienceCIP 01.0907partial data134 graduates / yr9 institutions
- Dairy ScienceCIP 01.0905121 graduates / yr14 institutions
- Livestock ManagementCIP 01.0906partial data36 graduates / yr8 institutions
- Agricultural Animal BreedingCIP 01.0902partial data31 graduates / yr3 institutions
- Animal NutritionCIP 01.0904limited data11 graduates / yr1 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, Associate's degree, or a Post-master's certificate.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, science, writing, and communication.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as an Animal Scientist or in related agricultural management roles.
What is the job outlook for Animal Scientists?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a growth rate of 5.8%.
What is the CIP code for Animal Health?+
Animal Health is CIP 01.0903 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 biological and chemical principles to the study, prevention, and control of diseases in agricultural animal populations. Includes instruction in environmental science, pharmacology, animal population studies, genetics, animal physiology and diet, disease prevention, treatment methodologies, and laboratory and testing procedures.
How many institutions offer Animal Health programs?+
9 U.S. institutions reported Animal Health graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 8 states, awarding 230 credentials in the year. That is 2.6% of all Animal Sciences graduates.
How much do Animal Health graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Animal Scientists occupation, which Animal Health 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 $34,933 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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