Best institutions to study Dairy Science
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.
14 U.S. institutions graduated 121 Dairy Science students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 01.0905, a specialization of Animal Sciences (CIP 01.09), and leads most directly to the Animal Scientists occupation (BLS SOC 19-1011).
About Dairy Science programs
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. Includes instruction in animal sciences, nutrition sciences, food science and technology, biochemistry, and related aspects of human and animal health and safety.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Dairy Science program, a specialization within Animal Sciences, focuses on the application of biological and chemical principles to the production and management of dairy animals, as well as the handling of dairy products. This program is designed for students interested in agricultural science, animal health, and food production, providing a comprehensive understanding of dairy science and its impact on human health and safety.
Students in the Dairy Science program will gain core skills in animal nutrition, food science, and biochemistry. Coursework typically covers essential topics such as animal sciences, nutrition sciences, and the principles of dairy production and management.
Credentials awarded
What Dairy Science graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree62 graduates / yr · 9 institutions51%
- Associate's degree27 graduates / yr · 4 institutions22%
- Award of less than 12 weeks15 graduates / yr · 1 institution12%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years8 graduates / yr · 1 institution6.6%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship5 graduates / yr · 1 institution4.1%
- Master's degree4 graduates / yr · 2 institutions3.3%
Graduates over time
Dairy Science completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 193 |
| 2013 | 206 |
| 2014 | 227 |
| 2015 | 268 |
| 2016 | 265 |
| 2017 | 247 |
| 2018 | 266 |
| 2019 | 229 |
| 2020 | 236 |
| 2021 | 202 |
| 2022 | 181 |
| 2023 | 148 |
| 2024 | 147 |
| 2025 | 121 |
Top 14 institutions for Dairy Science, 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 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VAPublicBachelor's | 20 | 86% | — | $28,729 |
| 2 | Northcentral Technical College Wausau, WIPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAssociate's | 20 | 45% | — | — |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 15 | 90% | — | $44,354 |
| 4 | SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill Cobleskill, NYPublicAssociate's | 10 | 42% | — | $37,068 |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin - River Falls River Falls, WIPublicBachelor's | 9 | 57% | — | $37,852 |
| 6 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MIPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 8 | 81% | — | $41,292 |
| 7 | Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute Wooster, OHPublicAssociate's | 8 | 43% | — | $39,743 |
| 8 | South Dakota State University Brookings, SDPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 8 | 62% | — | $44,844 |
| 9 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CAPublicBachelor's | 5 | 86% | — | $33,879 |
| 10 | Iowa State University Ames, IAPublicBachelor's | 5 | 75% | — | $39,567 |
| 11 | SUNY Morrisville Morrisville, NYPublicAssociate's | 4 | 28% | — | — |
| 12 | University of Wisconsin - Platteville Platteville, WIPublicBachelor's | 4 | 56% | — | $44,956 |
| 13 | Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus Portales, NMPublicBachelor's | 3 | 45% | — | — |
| 14 | Delaware Valley University Doylestown, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 56% | $25,402 | $38,378 |
* 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 10 states
Where Dairy Science graduates come from. Each state links to all Animal Sciences programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 4 | 48 | Northcentral Technical College20 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 20 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University20 / yr |
| New York | 2 | 14 | SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill10 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 8 | Michigan State University8 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 8 | Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute8 / yr |
| South Dakota | 1 | 8 | South Dakota State University8 / yr |
| California | 1 | 5 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo5 / yr |
| Iowa | 1 | 5 | Iowa State University5 / yr |
| New Mexico | 1 | 3 | Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus3 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 2 | Delaware Valley University2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1011, Animal Scientists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Dairy Science program can pursue careers as Animal Scientists, with a job outlook that is faster than average, projecting a growth rate of 5.8% and approximately 200 annual openings. The median wage for this occupation is around $79,120, with a typical education requirement of a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 01.0905
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 |
Agricultural Technicians SOC 19-4012 | $49,630 | +4.3% About as fast as average | ~2,900 | Associate's degree |
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 Dairy Science 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
- 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 Dairy Science?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Associate's degree, or shorter awards in Dairy Science.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and scientific writing.
What careers can I pursue with a Dairy Science degree?+
You can work as an Animal Scientist or in various 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% and about 200 openings annually.
What is the CIP code for Dairy Science?+
Dairy Science is CIP 01.0905 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 production and management of dairy animals and the production and handling of dairy products. Includes instruction in animal sciences, nutrition sciences, food science and technology, biochemistry, and related aspects of human and animal health and safety.
How many institutions offer Dairy Science programs?+
14 U.S. institutions reported Dairy Science graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 10 states, awarding 121 credentials in the year. That is 1.4% of all Animal Sciences graduates.
How much do Dairy Science graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Animal Scientists occupation, which Dairy Science 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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