Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science And Related Fields

Best institutions to study Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians

Compare 264 U.S. colleges offering Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 50 states.

Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians programs report a median of $33,738 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 01.83 and the Veterinary Technologists and Technicians occupation (BLS SOC).

Institutions
264
offering CIP 01.83
States & territories
50
with a program page
With earnings data
139
College Scorecard
Degrees / yr
8,916
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$33,738
1 year after graduation
US pay · Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
$49,120
BLS OEWS May 2025

About Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians programs

The Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians program prepares students for a career in veterinary medicine, focusing on the care and treatment of animals. This program is ideal for individuals passionate about animal health and welfare, providing essential skills for roles such as veterinary technicians and assistants. Students will learn to perform various tasks that support veterinarians in clinical settings.

Learn more about Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians

What you'll learn

Students in this program will gain critical skills in areas such as administering anesthesia, monitoring animal recovery, performing laboratory tests, and preparing medications. Core knowledge includes medicine, biology, and customer service, ensuring graduates are well-equipped to support animal health effectively.

Top 50 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1CUNY LaGuardia Community College
Long Island City, NY Public · Associate degree
$50,2812824%
2Massasoit Community College
Brockton, MA Public · Associate degree
$45,5651519%
3Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN Public · Bachelor's degree
$43,7478983%$17,098
4San Juan College
Farmington, NM Public · Associate degree
$43,73012937%$19,500
5Manor College
Jenkintown, PA Private not-for-profit · Associate degree
$43,3081226%$19,082$29,750
6Connecticut State Community College
New Britain, CT Public · Associate degree
$43,1253124%
7Northern Virginia Community College
Annandale, VA Public · Associate degree
$42,9663433%$21,101
8University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Amherst, MA Public · Bachelor's degree
$42,4822083%$27,000
9Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI Public · Bachelor's degree
$41,4002581%
10Bergen Community College
Paramus, NJ Public · Associate degree
$41,1502221%$21,000
11Gwinnett Technical College
Lawrenceville, GA Public · Associate degree
$41,1143332%$18,750
12Miami Dade College
Miami, FL Public · Associate degree
$41,0761046%
13Mt San Antonio College
Walnut, CA Public · Associate degree
$40,9292545%
14Portland Community College
Portland, OR Public · Associate degree
$40,7482418%$21,000
15Holyoke Community College
Holyoke, MA Public · Associate degree
$39,9792029%
16Blue Ridge Community College
Weyers Cave, VA Public · Associate degree
$39,51019840%$16,562
17Harcum College
Bryn Mawr, PA Private not-for-profit · Associate degree
$39,2882844%$27,244$22,531
18University of Maine at Augusta
Augusta, ME Public · Bachelor's degree
$39,275927%
19Parkland College
Champaign, IL Public · Associate degree
$39,2462532%
20Des Moines Area Community College
Ankeny, IA Public · Associate degree
$38,9621639%$16,252
21Bel - Rea Institute of Animal Technology
Denver, CO Private for-profit · Associate degree
$38,8994827%$26,262$26,772
22Rochester Community and Technical College
Rochester, MN Public · Associate degree
$38,8171929%$21,250
23Community College of Denver
Denver, CO Public · Associate degree
$38,6553120%$17,750
24St Petersburg College
St. Petersburg, FL Public · Associate degree
$38,42210238%$18,830
25Macomb Community College
Warren, MI Public · Associate degree
$38,1262818%
26New England Institute of Technology
East Greenwich, RI Private not-for-profit · Associate degree
$38,1262160%$36,659
27Windward Community College
Kaneohe, HI Public · Associate degree
$38,1095631%$6,299
28Lone Star College System
The Woodlands, TX Public · Certificate degree
$38,1013221%
29SUNY College of Technology at Canton
Canton, NY Public · Associate degree
$38,0645238%$14,297
30Delaware Technical Community College - Terry
Dover, DE Public · Associate degree
$38,0351522%
31Central Carolina Community College
Sanford, NC Public · Associate degree
$37,9154143%$9,899
32SUNY College of Technology at Delhi
Delhi, NY Public · Associate degree
$37,7719545%$12,000
33Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City
Kansas City, MO Public · Associate degree
$37,6314334%$7,934
34Lehigh Carbon Community College
Schnecksville, PA Public · Associate degree
$37,3811530%
35Camden County College
Blackwood, NJ Public · Associate degree
$37,3461831%
36Ulster County Community College
Stone Ridge, NY Public · Associate degree
$37,3461934%$12,854
37Ridgewater College
Willmar, MN Public · Associate degree
$37,1414250%$14,171
38Gateway Technical College
Kenosha, WI Public · Associate degree
$37,1322251%
39Jefferson State Community College
Birmingham, AL Public · Associate degree
$37,0851526%
40Joliet Junior College
Joliet, IL Public · Associate degree
$36,9887121%$9,562
41Dakota County Technical College
Rosemount, MN Public · Associate degree
$36,8664158%$18,255
42Fox College
Tinley Park, IL Private for-profit · Associate degree
$36,8537971%$14,407$14,722
43York County Community College
Wells, ME Public · Associate degree
$36,8291334%$17,449
44North Dakota State University - Main Campus
Fargo, ND Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,8142064%$23,250
45Great Bay Community College
Portsmouth, NH Public · Associate degree
$36,6721434%$18,000
46Vermont State University
Randolph, VT Public · Associate degree
$36,3951047%
47SUNY College of Technology at Alfred
Alfred, NY Public · Associate degree
$36,2931555%$14,500
48Carrington College - Sacramento
Sacramento, CA Private for-profit · Associate degree
$36,2363351%$38,203$20,000
49Carrington College - San Leandro Campus
San Leandro, CA Private for-profit · Associate degree
$36,2362959%$33,894$20,000
50Carrington College - San Jose
San Jose, CA Private for-profit · Associate degree
$36,2363660%$32,608$20,000

Offered across 50 states & territories

The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.

StateInstitutionsMedian earningsTop institution by earnings
Indiana4$43,747Purdue University - Main Campus
Connecticutlimited1$43,125Connecticut State Community College
Virginia3$42,966Northern Virginia Community College
Massachusetts6$42,482Massasoit Community College
New Jersey3$41,150Bergen Community College
Georgia6$41,114Gwinnett Technical College
Oregon3$40,748Portland Community College
Mainelimited2$39,275University of Maine at Augusta
Rhode Islandlimited1$38,126New England Institute of Technology
Hawaiilimited1$38,109Windward Community College
Delawarelimited1$38,035Delaware Technical Community College - Terry
New York12$37,771CUNY LaGuardia Community College
Missouri6$37,631Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City
Minnesota4$37,141Rochester Community and Technical College
Alabama3$37,085Jefferson State Community College
Illinois6$36,988Parkland College
North Dakotalimited2$36,814North Dakota State University - Main Campus
New Hampshire3$36,672Great Bay Community College
Vermontlimited1$36,395Vermont State University
Kansaslimited2$36,184Colby Community College
North Carolina5$36,095Central Carolina Community College
Idaholimited1$35,829College of Southern Idaho
Florida11$35,698Miami Dade College
Pennsylvania11$35,554Manor College
Colorado12$35,040Bel - Rea Institute of Animal Technology
Wisconsin6$34,698Gateway Technical College
South Carolina4$33,738Tri - County Technical College
Louisiana4$33,705Baton Rouge Community College
Mississippi3$33,626Mississippi State University
Wyominglimited2$33,208Eastern Wyoming College
Ohio11$32,820University of Cincinnati - Blue Ash College
Nebraska3$32,793Northeast Community College
Oklahoma8$32,320Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City
Iowa7$31,017Des Moines Area Community College
Tennessee5$30,761Columbia State Community College
Texas16$30,665Lone Star College System
Kentucky4$30,476Owensboro Community and Technical College
California32$29,721Mt San Antonio College
New Mexico3$28,323San Juan College
West Virginia5$26,843Pierpont Community and Technical College
Arizona8$25,735Pima Community College
Washington6$25,638Carrington College - Spokane
Nevada3$25,638Pima Medical Institute - Las Vegas
Michigan7$23,488Michigan State University
Alaskalimited2$23,184Charter College
Utahlimited1$21,361Bridgerland Technical College
Puerto Rico11$16,727CEM College - San Juan
Montanalimited1
South Dakotalimited1
Marylandlimited1

Careers & outlook

The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-2056, Veterinary Technologists and Technicians, and its national outlook.

Graduates of the Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians program can expect a much faster than average job growth of 9.1%, with approximately 14,300 annual openings. The median wage for this field is around $45,980, and typical education required is an Associate's degree.

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+9.1%
Much faster than average
Openings / yr (US)
~14,300
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$45,980
typically Associate's degree
National employment
129,140
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
US average pay
$49,120
annual, BLS OEWS May 2025
US median pay
$47,380
annual

Top-paying metros

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$68,370avg
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$68,210avg
Corvallis, OR
$68,140avg
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
$62,780avg
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$62,770avg

Related careers

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
$49,120 avg · 129,140 jobs
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
$40,340 avg · 126,580 jobs

CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians

The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 01.83.

Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 01.83 (Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians) maps to 3 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.

SOC codeOccupation
25-1071Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
29-2056Veterinary Technologists and Techniciansprimary
31-9096Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.

Skills & knowledge in Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians programs

From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.

Skills you'll build

Critical Thinking
Active Listening
Reading Comprehension
Speaking
Monitoring
Writing
Active Learning
Learning Strategies

Knowledge areas

Medicine and Dentistry
Customer and Personal Service
Biology
English Language
Mathematics
Chemistry

What graduates do on the job

  • Administer anesthesia to animals, under the direction of a veterinarian, and monitor animals' responses to anesthetics so that dosages can be adjusted.
  • Care for and monitor the condition of animals recovering from surgery.
  • Maintain controlled drug inventory and related log books.
  • Perform laboratory tests on blood, urine, or feces, such as urinalyses or blood counts, to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of animal health problems.
  • Prepare and administer medications, vaccines, serums, or treatments, as prescribed by veterinarians.
  • Restrain animals during exams or procedures.

Concentrations within Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians

Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).

  • Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant
    CIP 01.8301

    A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of veterinarians, laboratory animal specialists, and zoological professionals, to provide patient management, care, and clinical procedures a

  • Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians, Other
    CIP 01.8399

    Any instructional program in veterinary or animal health technologies not listed above.

Common questions

What is a veterinary technician?+

A veterinary technician is a paraveterinarian who performs procedures autonomously or semi-autonomously as part of a veterinary assistance system.

What skills will I learn in this program?+

You will learn critical thinking, active listening, monitoring, and various medical procedures related to animal health.

What are the job prospects after graduation?+

The job outlook is strong, with a growth rate of 9.1% and 14,300 annual openings in the field.

What education do I need to become a veterinary technician?+

Typically, an Associate's degree is required to enter the profession.

How much do Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians graduates earn?+

Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians graduates report median earnings of $33,738 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Veterinary Technologists and Technicians occupation pays about $49,120 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).

What is the CIP code for Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians?+

Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians maps to CIP 01.83 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.

Zoom outAll programs
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians by stateIndianaConnecticutVirginiaMassachusettsNew JerseyGeorgiaOregonMaineRhode IslandHawaii

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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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