Animal Sciences: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Animal Sciences is a comprehensive academic discipline centered on the scientific foundations of livestock management, breeding, and the sustainable production of animal-derived agricultural goods. This program equips students with advanced knowledge of animal biology, nutrition, and production systems, preparing them for impactful roles across modern agriculture and food industries.
- Animal Physiology and Anatomy: In-depth study of the biological systems and structural makeup of domesticated animals, emphasizing how physiological processes influence health, performance, and productivity.
- Genetics and Breeding: Exploration of hereditary traits and genetic selection techniques used to improve livestock quality, disease resistance, and reproductive efficiency.
- Animal Nutrition: Analysis of dietary requirements and feeding strategies tailored to different species and production stages to optimize growth, reproduction, and overall well-being.
- Husbandry and Welfare: Focus on ethical and effective management practices that ensure animal health, comfort, and humane treatment throughout all life stages.
- Production Systems Management: Training in the design, operation, and optimization of livestock production environments, including feedlot, pasture, and confined systems.
- Food Processing and Safety: Examination of post-harvest handling, meat and dairy processing, quality control, and regulatory standards to ensure safe, high-quality animal products.
- Sustainable Agriculture: Integration of environmental stewardship, resource efficiency, and long-term viability into animal production practices.
Animal Sciences Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Animal Sciences Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Animal Sciences degrees, including Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary and Animal Scientists. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 71,210 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers 11-9013 | $87,980 | $51,700 - $156,530 | 5,910 | $42.30 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1041 | $86,350 | $49,080 - $160,870 | 8,700 | N/A |
| Animal Scientists 19-1011 | $79,120 | $48,440 - $235,750 | 2,470 | $38.04 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers 45-1011 | $59,330 | $39,610 - $90,840 | 29,530 | $28.53 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators 25-9021 | $58,120 | $36,780 - $85,230 | 10,260 | $27.94 |
| Agricultural Technicians 19-4012 | $46,790 | $32,860 - $69,010 | 14,340 | $22.49 |
Animal Sciences Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $45,510 in Louisiana to $87,698 in Minnesota—a 93% difference. The highest-paying states include Minnesota, California, and Maryland. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 71,210 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Animal Sciences by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Animal Sciences programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Animal Sciences is found at University of California (UCD), Davis (310 graduates), Texas A & M University, College Station (307 graduates), Texas Tech University (TTU) (276 graduates), Oklahoma State University (OSU), Main Campus (238 graduates), and North Carolina State University (NC State), Raleigh (234 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 7,473 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of California (UCD) |
Bachelor's
|
310 | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
307 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
276 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
238 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
234 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
229 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) |
Bachelor's
|
189 | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | calpoly.edu |
| Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
185 | Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
169 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
166 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Residency
|
164 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| California State Polytechnic University (CPP) |
Bachelor's
|
160 | Pomona, California | Public | cpp.edu |
| Tarleton State University (TSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
155 | Stephenville, Texas | Public | tarleton.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF) |
Bachelor's
|
149 | River Falls, Wisconsin | Public | uwrf.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
148 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
148 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
141 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
128 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
118 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
117 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| Clemson University |
Bachelor's
|
112 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
108 | Fresno, California | Public | fresnostate.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
107 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
107 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Public | lsu.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNL) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
106 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | unl.edu |
| Sam Houston State University (SHSU) |
Bachelor's
|
103 | Huntsville, Texas | Public | shsu.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPRM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
103 | Mayaguez, Puerto Rico | Public | uprm.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
102 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Colorado State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
99 | Fort Collins, Colorado | Public | colostate.edu |
| South Dakota State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
96 | Brookings, South Dakota | Public | sdstate.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
93 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| Mississippi State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
92 | Mississippi State, Mississippi | Public | msstate.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
90 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Cornell University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
89 | Ithaca, New York | Private | cornell.edu |
| University of Vermont (UVM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
87 | Burlington, Vermont | Public | uvm.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
84 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
82 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology (SUNY Cobleskill) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
80 | Cobleskill, New York | Public | cobleskill.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
79 | Chico, California | Public | csuchico.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Bachelor's
|
71 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| University of Rhode Island (URI) |
Bachelor's
|
69 | Kingston, Rhode Island | Public | web.uri.edu |
| New Mexico State University (NMSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
67 | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Public | nmsu.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
63 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| Utah State University (USU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
63 | Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
60 | Kingsville, Texas | Public | tamuk.edu |
| University of Idaho (U of I) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
59 | Moscow, Idaho | Public | uidaho.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU–I) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
59 | Rexburg, Idaho | Private | byui.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
59 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| Tuskegee University (TU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
58 | Tuskegee, Alabama | Private | tuskegee.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
58 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) |
Bachelor's
|
57 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Public | mtsu.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
53 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| North Carolina A & T State University (NC A&T) |
Bachelor's
|
52 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | ncat.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
51 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Montana State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
51 | Bozeman, Montana | Public | montana.edu |
| University of Wyoming (UW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
51 | Laramie, Wyoming | Public | uwyo.edu |
| Delaware Valley University (DelVal) |
Bachelor's
|
46 | Doylestown, Pennsylvania | Private | delval.edu |
| University of Maine (UMaine) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
42 | Orono, Maine | Public | umaine.edu |
| Angelo State University (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
41 | San Angelo, Texas | Public | angelo.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
39 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| University of New Hampshire (UNH) |
Bachelor's
|
39 | Durham, New Hampshire | Public | unh.edu |
| North Dakota State University (NDSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
39 | Fargo, North Dakota | Public | ndsu.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
38 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
36 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| Fort Valley State University (FVSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
35 | Fort Valley, Georgia | Public | fvsu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
35 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
33 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Commerce, Texas | Public | tamuc.edu |
| Southern Illinois University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
30 | Carbondale, Illinois | Public | siu.edu |
| Arkansas State University (A-State) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Jonesboro, Arkansas | Public | astate.edu |
| Louisiana Tech University (LA Tech) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Ruston, Louisiana | Public | latech.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Platteville, Wisconsin | Public | uwplatt.edu |
| The University of Findlay (UF) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Findlay, Ohio | Private | findlay.edu |
| University of Hawaii (UHM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
24 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Public | manoa.hawaii.edu |
| Northwest Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Maryville, Missouri | Public | nwmissouri.edu |
| Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute |
Associate's
|
22 | Wooster, Ohio | Public | ati.osu.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Crookston, Minnesota | Public | crk.umn.edu |
| Sul Ross State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
18 | Alpine, Texas | Public | sulross.edu |
| Murray State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Murray, Kentucky | Public | murraystate.edu |
| College of Western Idaho (CWI) |
Associate's
|
15 | Nampa, Idaho | Public | cwi.edu |
| College of Southern Idaho (CSI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
14 | Twin Falls, Idaho | Public | csi.edu |
| College of the Ozarks (C of O) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Point Lookout, Missouri | Private | cofo.edu |
| Oklahoma Panhandle State University (OPSU) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Goodwell, Oklahoma | Public | opsu.edu |
| Unity Environmental University |
Bachelor's
|
13 | New Gloucester, Maine | Private | unity.edu |
| Tennessee Technological University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Cookeville, Tennessee | Public | tntech.edu |
| West Texas A & M University (WTAMU) |
Master's
|
11 | Canyon, Texas | Public | wtamu.edu |
| Casper College |
Associate's
|
11 | Casper, Wyoming | Public | caspercollege.edu |
| Northeastern Junior College (NJC) |
Associate's
|
10 | Sterling, Colorado | Public | njc.edu |
| Northland Community and Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
10 | Thief River Falls, Minnesota | Public | northlandcollege.edu |
| Ulster County Community College |
Other Award
|
10 | Stone Ridge, New York | Public | sunyulster.edu |
| Kaskaskia College (KC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
9 | Centralia, Illinois | Public | kaskaskia.edu |
| Snow College |
Associate's
|
9 | Ephraim, Utah | Public | snow.edu |
| Northeast Community College |
Associate's
|
8 | Norfolk, Nebraska | Public | northeast.edu |
| Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
8 | Harrogate, Tennessee | Private | lmunet.edu |
| John Wood Community College (JWCC) |
Associate's
|
7 | Quincy, Illinois | Public | jwcc.edu |
| Andrews University |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Berrien Springs, Michigan | Private | andrews.edu |
| Cochise County Community College District |
Associate's
Other Award
|
6 | Sierra Vista, Arizona | Public | cochise.edu |
| Dordt University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Sioux Center, Iowa | Private | dordt.edu |
| University of Mount Olive (UMO) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Mount Olive, North Carolina | Private | umo.edu |
| Laramie County Community College (LCCC) |
Associate's
|
6 | Cheyenne, Wyoming | Public | lccc.wy.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Animal Sciences programs
How much can I earn with a Animal Sciences degree?
Salaries for Animal Sciences graduates vary by role and location. Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers earn a median of $87,980 annually, while Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $86,350. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Minnesota average $87,698 compared to $45,510 in Louisiana. Approximately 71,210 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Animal Sciences programs?
Currently 124 accredited institutions offer Animal Sciences degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of California (UCD), Davis (310 graduates), Texas A & M University, College Station (307 graduates), and Texas Tech University (TTU) (276 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Animal Sciences growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 5,029 in 2010 to 7,535 in 2023-24. This represents a 50% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Animal Sciences degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, and Animal Scientists. Related occupations employ approximately 71,210 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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