Best institutions to study Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine
A program that focuses on the scientific study of animal models of human disease and related experimental procedures, and prepares veterinarians and animal health specialists to manage the laboratory use and care of experimental animals.
6 U.S. institutions graduated 47 Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 01.8102, a specialization of Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (CIP 01.81), and leads most directly to the Veterinarians occupation (BLS SOC 29-1131).
About Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine programs
A program that focuses on the scientific study of animal models of human disease and related experimental procedures, and prepares veterinarians and animal health specialists to manage the laboratory use and care of experimental animals. Includes instruction in laboratory animal husbandry, laboratory animal disease, biohazard control, gnotobiology, breeding, comparative anatomy and physiology, comparative gene mapping, protein function, physical and mathematical modeling, computer modeling, stem cell technology, colony and genetic stock management, cryopreservation, applicable regulations, and bioethics.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine program, part of Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, focuses on the scientific study of animal models of human disease. It prepares veterinarians and animal health specialists to manage the care and use of experimental animals in laboratory settings. This program is ideal for those passionate about veterinary science and research.
Students in this program gain knowledge in laboratory animal husbandry, disease management, biohazard control, and comparative anatomy. Core skills developed include critical thinking, active learning, and effective communication, essential for success in veterinary and research environments.
Credentials awarded
What Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree36 graduates / yr · 6 institutions77%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship11 graduates / yr · 1 institution23%
Graduates over time
Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 56 |
| 2021 | 67 |
| 2022 | 59 |
| 2023 | 52 |
| 2024 | 58 |
| 2025 | 47 |
Top 6 institutions for Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 22 | 88% | — |
| 2 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 11 | 78% | $36,004 |
| 3 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicMaster's | 6 | 85% | — |
| 4 | Old Dominion University Norfolk, VAPublicMaster's | 5 | 46% | — |
| 5 | Tufts University Medford, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 2 | 94% | $23,570 |
| 6 | Oregon State University Corvallis, ORPublicMaster's | 1 | 70% | — |
Offered in 6 states
Where Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine graduates come from. Each state links to all Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 1 | 22 | Ohio State University - Main Campus22 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 11 | Drexel University11 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 6 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus6 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 5 | Old Dominion University5 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 2 | Tufts University2 / yr |
| Oregon | 1 | 1 | Oregon State University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-1131, Veterinarians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine program can pursue careers as veterinarians or health specialties teachers. The job outlook is much faster than average, with an expected growth rate of 9.6% and approximately 3,000 annual openings. The median wage for veterinarians is $125,510, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 01.8102
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Veterinariansprimary SOC 29-1131 | $130,100 | +9.6% Much faster than average | ~3,000 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1071 | $107,310 | +17.3% Much faster than average | ~27,400 | 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 Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine 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
- Treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds, or performing surgery.
- Inoculate animals against various diseases, such as rabies or distemper.
- Examine animals to detect and determine the nature of diseases or injuries.
- Collect body tissue, feces, blood, urine, or other body fluids for examination and analysis.
- Operate diagnostic equipment, such as radiographic or ultrasound equipment, and interpret the resulting images.
- Educate the public about diseases that can be spread from animals to humans.
Tools and technology used
Other Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences specializations
The 11 other 6-digit CIP codes under Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (CIP 01.81).
- Veterinary Sciences/CIP 01.8101
Veterinary Clinical Sciences 740 graduates / yr23 institutions - Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public HealthCIP 01.8110partial data63 graduates / yr6 institutions
- Veterinary Pathology and PathobiologyCIP 01.8108partial data46 graduates / yr6 institutions
- Veterinary Microbiology and ImmunobiologyCIP 01.8107partial data30 graduates / yr4 institutions
- Veterinary Infectious DiseasesCIP 01.8106partial data29 graduates / yr4 institutions
- Small/CIP 01.8104
Companion Animal Surgery and Medicine limited data11 graduates / yr1 institutions - Veterinary PhysiologyCIP 01.8109limited data3 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Large Animal/CIP 01.8103
Food Animal and Equine Surgery and Medicine limited data1 graduates / yr1 institutions - Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical SciencesCIP 01.8199limited data1 graduates / yr1 institutions
Show 2 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Veterinary Anatomy01.8105
- Veterinary Toxicology and Pharmacology01.8111
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
See all Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences programs →
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Master's degree or a Doctor's degree in Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, and science, among others.
What careers can I pursue after this program?+
You can work as a veterinarian or a health specialties teacher, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 9.6% and about 3,000 openings annually.
What is the CIP code for Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine?+
Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine is CIP 01.8102 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (CIP 01.81). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the scientific study of animal models of human disease and related experimental procedures, and prepares veterinarians and animal health specialists to manage the laboratory use and care of experimental animals. Includes instruction in laboratory animal husbandry, laboratory animal disease, biohazard control, gnotobiology, breeding, comparative anatomy and physiology, comparative gene mapping, protein function, physical and mathematical modeling, computer modeling, stem cell technology, colony and genetic stock management, cryopreservation, applicable regulations, and bioethics.
How many institutions offer Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine programs?+
6 U.S. institutions reported Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 6 states, awarding 47 credentials in the year. That is 4.8% of all Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences graduates.
How much do Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Veterinarians occupation, which Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine most directly leads to, pays a median of $130,100 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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.
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