Best institutions to study Animal Nutrition
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.
1 U.S. institutions graduated 11 Animal Nutrition students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 01.0904, a specialization of Animal Sciences (CIP 01.09), and leads most directly to the Animal Scientists occupation (BLS SOC 19-1011).
About Animal Nutrition programs
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. Includes instruction in nutrition science, animal health and physiology, biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, animal husbandry, and food science.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Animal Nutrition program, part of the broader Animal Sciences field, focuses on the biology and chemistry of essential nutrients such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and feed additives. This program is designed for students interested in enhancing animal health and the production of improved animal products through scientific research and practical applications.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in nutrition science, animal health and physiology, biochemistry, and food science. Core skills developed include reading comprehension, critical thinking, and effective communication, which are essential for addressing the nutritional needs of various animal species.
Credentials awarded
What Animal Nutrition graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship11 graduates / yr · 1 institution100%
Graduates over time
Animal Nutrition completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 11 |
Top 1 institutions for Animal Nutrition, 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 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Stillwater, OKPublicDoctoral | 11 | 68% | — | $36,235 |
* 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 1 states
Where Animal Nutrition graduates come from. Each state links to all Animal Sciences programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 1 | 11 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus11 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1011, Animal Scientists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Animal Nutrition program can pursue careers as Animal Scientists, with a job outlook that is faster than average, projecting a growth rate of 5.8%. With approximately 200 annual openings and a median wage of $79,120, a typical educational requirement is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 01.0904
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 Animal Nutrition 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
- Agricultural Animal BreedingCIP 01.0902partial data31 graduates / yr3 institutions
Common questions
What is the focus of the Animal Nutrition program?+
The program focuses on the biology and chemistry of nutrients as they relate to animal health and product improvement.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, communication, and scientific analysis related to animal nutrition.
What careers can I pursue with a degree in Animal Nutrition?+
You can work as an Animal Scientist or in related fields such as agricultural management and education.
What is the job outlook for Animal Scientists?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a projected growth rate of 5.8% and about 200 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Animal Nutrition?+
Animal Nutrition is CIP 01.0904 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 biology and chemistry of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, water, vitamins, and feed additives as related to animal health and the production of improved animal products. Includes instruction in nutrition science, animal health and physiology, biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, animal husbandry, and food science.
How many institutions offer Animal Nutrition programs?+
1 U.S. institutions reported Animal Nutrition graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 1 states, awarding 11 credentials in the year. That is 0.1% of all Animal Sciences graduates.
How much do Animal Nutrition graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Animal Scientists occupation, which Animal Nutrition 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 $36,235 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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