Best institutions to study Animal Behavior and Ethology
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the psychological and neurological bases of animal sensation, perception, cognition, behavior, and behavioral interactions within and outside the species.
12 U.S. institutions graduated 269 Animal Behavior and Ethology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 26.0708, a specialization of Zoology/Animal Biology (CIP 26.07), and leads most directly to the Biological Technicians occupation (BLS SOC 19-4021).
About Animal Behavior and Ethology programs
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the psychological and neurological bases of animal sensation, perception, cognition, behavior, and behavioral interactions within and outside the species. Includes instruction in ethology, behavioral neuroscience, neurobiology, behavioral evolution, cognition and sensory perception, motivators, learning and instinct, hormonal controls, reproductive and developmental biology, community ecology, functional behavior, and applications to specific behaviors and patterns as well as to specific phyla and species.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Animal Behavior and Ethology program focuses on the scientific study of animal sensation, perception, cognition, and behavior. It is designed for students interested in understanding the psychological and neurological bases of animal interactions, both within and across species. This program is ideal for those passionate about wildlife, animal care, and research in biological sciences.
Students will gain knowledge in areas such as ethology, behavioral neuroscience, cognition, and sensory perception. Coursework emphasizes critical thinking, research methodologies, and practical skills in data collection and analysis, equipping graduates with a solid foundation for various roles in biological and biomedical sciences.
Credentials awarded
What Animal Behavior and Ethology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree227 graduates / yr · 10 institutions84%
- Master's degree27 graduates / yr · 3 institutions10%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year8 graduates / yr · 1 institution3.0%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship7 graduates / yr · 2 institutions2.6%
Graduates over time
Animal Behavior and Ethology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 57 |
| 2013 | 68 |
| 2014 | 56 |
| 2015 | 138 |
| 2016 | 132 |
| 2017 | 169 |
| 2018 | 184 |
| 2019 | 198 |
| 2020 | 171 |
| 2021 | 172 |
| 2022 | 228 |
| 2023 | 221 |
| 2024 | 235 |
| 2025 | 269 |
Top 12 institutions for Animal Behavior and Ethology, 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 | Eckerd College Saint Petersburg, FLPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 63 | 66% | $31,022 | — |
| 2 | Canisius University Buffalo, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 55 | 66% | $17,353 | $26,398 |
| 3 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicBachelor's | 34 | 80% | — | $27,096 |
| 4 | Carroll University Waukesha, WIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 30 | 71% | $22,601 | $25,303 |
| 5 | Bucknell University Lewisburg, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 22 | 86% | $30,675 | — |
| 6 | University of New England Biddeford, MEPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 18 | 68% | $34,673 | $28,509 |
| 7 | Madonna University Livonia, MIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 16 | 60% | $16,904 | — |
| 8 | Franklin and Marshall College Lancaster, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 10 | 84% | $27,178 | — |
| 9 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 9 | 86% | — | — |
| 10 | Utica University Utica, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 56% | $20,237 | — |
| 11 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicDoctoral | 2 | 68% | — | — |
| 12 | Hampshire College Amherst, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 54% | $22,968 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Zoology/Animal Biology field (CIP 26.07) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 10 states
Where Animal Behavior and Ethology graduates come from. Each state links to all Zoology/Animal Biology programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 2 | 63 | Canisius University55 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 63 | Eckerd College63 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 34 | Indiana University - Bloomington34 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 32 | Bucknell University22 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 30 | Carroll University30 / yr |
| Maine | 1 | 18 | University of New England18 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 16 | Madonna University16 / yr |
| California | 1 | 9 | University of California - Davis9 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 2 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion2 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 2 | Hampshire College2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-4021, Biological Technicians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Animal Behavior and Ethology program can pursue careers as Biological Technicians or Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an estimated 9,100 annual openings and a median wage of $52,000 for roles typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 26.0708
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological Techniciansprimary SOC 19-4021 | $57,510 | +3.5% About as fast as average | ~9,100 | Bachelor's degree |
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists SOC 19-1023 | $76,780 | +1.6% Little or no change | ~1,400 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Animal Behavior and Ethology 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
- Conduct research, or assist in the conduct of research, including the collection of information and samples, such as blood, water, soil, plants and animals.
- Use computers, computer-interfaced equipment, robotics or high-technology industrial applications to perform work duties.
- Monitor and observe experiments, recording production and test data for evaluation by research personnel.
- Analyze experimental data and interpret results to write reports and summaries of findings.
- Provide technical support and services for scientists and engineers working in fields such as agriculture, environmental science, resource management, biology, and health sciences.
- Keep detailed logs of all work-related activities.
Tools and technology used
Other Zoology/Animal Biology specializations
The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under Zoology/Animal Biology (CIP 26.07).
- Zoology/CIP 26.0701
Animal Biology 1,722 graduates / yr48 institutions - Wildlife BiologyCIP 26.0709646 graduates / yr26 institutions
- EntomologyCIP 26.0702447 graduates / yr36 institutions
- Animal PhysiologyCIP 26.0707partial data235 graduates / yr9 institutions
- Zoology/CIP 26.0799
Animal Biology partial data25 graduates / yr4 institutions
Common questions
What degrees are offered in this program?+
This program offers Bachelor's and Master's degrees, as well as shorter awards.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, research, and effective communication.
What types of jobs can I get after graduation?+
You can work as a Biological Technician or Zoologist, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with 9,100 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Animal Behavior and Ethology?+
Animal Behavior and Ethology is CIP 26.0708 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Zoology/Animal Biology (CIP 26.07). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the scientific study of the psychological and neurological bases of animal sensation, perception, cognition, behavior, and behavioral interactions within and outside the species. Includes instruction in ethology, behavioral neuroscience, neurobiology, behavioral evolution, cognition and sensory perception, motivators, learning and instinct, hormonal controls, reproductive and developmental biology, community ecology, functional behavior, and applications to specific behaviors and patterns as well as to specific phyla and species.
How many institutions offer Animal Behavior and Ethology programs?+
12 U.S. institutions reported Animal Behavior and Ethology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 10 states, awarding 269 credentials in the year. That is 8.0% of all Zoology/Animal Biology graduates.
How much do Animal Behavior and Ethology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Biological Technicians occupation, which Animal Behavior and Ethology most directly leads to, pays a median of $57,510 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Zoology/Animal Biology field report median earnings of $27,096 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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