Best institutions to study Animal Sciences
Any instructional program in the animal sciences not listed above.
10 U.S. institutions graduated 274 Animal Sciences students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 01.0999, a specialization of Animal Sciences (CIP 01.09), and leads most directly to the Animal Scientists occupation (BLS SOC 19-1011).
About Animal Sciences programs
Any instructional program in the animal sciences not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Animal Sciences program focuses on the study of animals and their management, nutrition, and health. It is designed for students interested in agricultural sciences, veterinary science, and related fields, providing a comprehensive understanding of animal care and production practices. This program is suitable for those who aspire to work in animal research, agriculture, or education.
Students in the Animal Sciences program gain essential skills in biology, chemistry, and mathematics, alongside critical thinking and communication abilities. Coursework often includes topics such as animal nutrition, breeding, and management practices, equipping graduates with the knowledge needed to address challenges in animal care and production.
Credentials awarded
What Animal Sciences graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree226 graduates / yr · 7 institutions83%
- Associate's degree29 graduates / yr · 1 institution11%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years18 graduates / yr · 2 institutions6.6%
- Master's degree1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.4%
Graduates over time
Animal Sciences completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 155 |
| 2013 | 133 |
| 2014 | 151 |
| 2015 | 122 |
| 2016 | 152 |
| 2017 | 139 |
| 2018 | 181 |
| 2019 | 209 |
| 2020 | 190 |
| 2021 | 144 |
| 2022 | 186 |
| 2023 | 198 |
| 2024 | 246 |
| 2025 | 274 |
Top 10 institutions for Animal Sciences, 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 | Unity Environmental University New Gloucester, MEPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 140 | 29% | $19,316 | — |
| 2 | Delaware Valley University Doylestown, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 36 | 56% | $25,402 | $38,378 |
| 3 | Santa Fe College Gainesville, FLPublicAssociate's | 29 | 53% | — | $24,833 |
| 4 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 18 | 86% | — | $32,309 |
| 5 | Stautzenberger College - Maumee Maumee, OHPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 12 | 55% | $21,788 | $20,690 |
| 6 | Alabama A & M University Normal, ALPublicBachelor's | 10 | 24% | — | — |
| 7 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro, NCPublicBachelor's | 9 | 57% | — | $35,686 |
| 8 | Centenary University Hackettstown, NJPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 56% | $17,490 | — |
| 9 | Wilson College Chambersburg, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 48% | $18,586 | — |
| 10 | Stautzenberger College - Rockford Career College Rockford, ILPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 6 | 66% | $20,078 | $20,690 |
* 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 9 states
Where Animal Sciences graduates come from. Each state links to all Animal Sciences programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | 1 | 140 | Unity Environmental University140 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 43 | Delaware Valley University36 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 29 | Santa Fe College29 / yr |
| California | 1 | 18 | University of California - Davis18 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 12 | Stautzenberger College - Maumee12 / yr |
| Alabama | 1 | 10 | Alabama A & M University10 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 9 | North Carolina A & T State University9 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 7 | Centenary University7 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 6 | Stautzenberger College - Rockford Career College6 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1011, Animal Scientists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Animal Sciences program can pursue careers as Animal Scientists, with a median wage of $79,120. The job outlook is promising, with a growth rate of 5.8% and approximately 200 annual openings. A Bachelor's degree is typically required for these roles, making this program a solid foundation for a successful career in the field.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 01.0999
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 |
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers SOC 45-1011 | $59,320 | +2.5% About as fast as average | ~8,500 | 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 Sciences 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 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
- Animal NutritionCIP 01.0904limited data11 graduates / yr1 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Associate's degree, or an award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in reading comprehension, writing, science, critical thinking, and active listening.
What kind of jobs can I get after graduation?+
You can work as an Animal Scientist or in related fields such as agricultural management or education.
What is the job outlook for Animal Scientists?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a growth rate of 5.8% and around 200 openings each year.
What is the CIP code for Animal Sciences?+
Animal Sciences is CIP 01.0999 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Animal Sciences (CIP 01.09). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in the animal sciences not listed above.
How many institutions offer Animal Sciences programs?+
10 U.S. institutions reported Animal Sciences graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 9 states, awarding 274 credentials in the year. That is 3.1% of all Animal Sciences graduates.
How much do Animal Sciences graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Animal Scientists occupation, which Animal Sciences 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 $32,309 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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