Best colleges for Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians by graduate earnings are Purdue University ($43,747), University of Massachusetts-Amherst ($42,482) and Michigan State University ($41,400), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN): $43,747, 89 graduates a year
- University of Massachusetts-Amherst (Amherst, MA): $42,482, 20 graduates a year
- Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI): $41,400, 25 graduates a year
- North Dakota State University (Fargo, ND): $36,814, 20 graduates a year
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 median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $33,738 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 01.83 and the Veterinary Technologists and Technicians occupation (BLS SOC).
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 →
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 5 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Purdue University West Lafayette, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,747 | 89 | 83% | — | $17,098 |
| 2 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,482 | 20 | 83% | — | $27,000 |
| 3 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,400 | 25 | 81% | — | — |
| 4 | North Dakota State University Fargo, ND Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,814 | 20 | 64% | — | $23,250 |
| 5 | University of Maine at Augusta Augusta, ME Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $39,275 | 9 | 27% | — | — |
Top 25 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Juan College Farmington, NM Public · Associate degree | $43,730 | 129 | 37% | — | $19,500 |
| 2 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA Public · Associate degree | $42,966 | 34 | 33% | — | $21,101 |
| 3 | Gwinnett Technical College Lawrenceville, GA Public · Associate degree | $41,114 | 33 | 32% | — | $18,750 |
| 4 | Mt San Antonio College Walnut, CA Public · Associate degree | $40,929 | 25 | 45% | — | — |
| 5 | Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave, VA Public · Associate degree | $39,510 | 198 | 40% | — | $16,562 |
| 6 | Harcum College Bryn Mawr, PA Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $39,288 | 28 | 44% | $27,244 | $22,531 |
| 7 | Parkland College Champaign, IL Public · Associate degree | $39,246 | 25 | 32% | — | — |
| 8 | St Petersburg College St. Petersburg, FL Public · Associate degree | $38,422 | 102 | 38% | — | $18,830 |
| 9 | New England Institute of Technology East Greenwich, RI Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $38,126 | 21 | 60% | $36,659 | — |
| 10 | Windward Community College Kaneohe, HI Public · Associate degree | $38,109 | 56 | 31% | — | $6,299 |
| 11 | SUNY College of Technology at Canton Canton, NY Public · Associate degree | $38,064 | 52 | 38% | — | $14,297 |
| 12 | Central Carolina Community College Sanford, NC Public · Associate degree | $37,915 | 41 | 43% | — | $9,899 |
| 13 | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi Delhi, NY Public · Associate degree | $37,771 | 95 | 45% | — | $12,000 |
| 14 | Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City Kansas City, MO Public · Associate degree | $37,631 | 43 | 34% | — | $7,934 |
| 15 | Ridgewater College Willmar, MN Public · Associate degree | $37,141 | 42 | 50% | — | $14,171 |
| 16 | Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WI Public · Associate degree | $37,132 | 22 | 51% | — | — |
| 17 | Dakota County Technical College Rosemount, MN Public · Associate degree | $36,866 | 41 | 58% | — | $18,255 |
| 18 | Fox College Tinley Park, IL Private for-profit · Associate degree | $36,853 | 79 | 71% | $14,407 | $14,722 |
| 19 | Carrington College - Sacramento Sacramento, CA Private for-profit · Associate degree | $36,236 | 33 | 51% | $38,203 | $20,000 |
| 20 | Carrington College - San Leandro Campus San Leandro, CA Private for-profit · Associate degree | $36,236 | 29 | 59% | $33,894 | $20,000 |
| 21 | Carrington College - San Jose San Jose, CA Private for-profit · Associate degree | $36,236 | 36 | 60% | $32,608 | $20,000 |
| 22 | CUNY LaGuardia Community College Long Island City, NY Public · Associate degree | $50,281 | 28 | 24% | — | — |
| 23 | Massasoit Community College Brockton, MA Public · Associate degree Small program | $45,565 | 15 | 19% | — | — |
| 24 | Manor College Jenkintown, PA Private not-for-profit · Associate degree Small program | $43,308 | 12 | 26% | $19,082 | $29,750 |
| 25 | Connecticut State Community College New Britain, CT Public · Associate degree | $43,125 | 31 | 24% | — | — |
Specializations within Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians
2 of the 2 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 01.83 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
Offered across 50 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
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.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
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 code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 25-1071 | Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 29-2056 | Veterinary Technologists and Techniciansprimary |
| 31-9096 | Veterinary 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
Knowledge areas
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.
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 one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $33,738, College Scorecard (2019); 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.
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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card