Animal Science Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Study of domesticated animal biology, nutrition, genetics, and management.
Starting Salary
$50K
median
Mid-Career
$62K
salary
ROI Payback
5 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
3.5%
rate
Animal Science Overview
Study of domesticated animal biology, nutrition, genetics, and management.
Category
Agriculture
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
65%
Enrollment Trend
stable
Online Available
Limited
Underemployment
22%
Lifetime Premium
$350K
Female Graduates
65%
Animal Science Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$13,500
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$13,500
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$336,500
Lifetime earnings premium ($350,000) minus net degree cost ($13,500)
Animal Science Salary Progression
Common Animal Science Careers
Animal Scientist
Livestock Manager
Pharmaceutical Sales Rep
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Animal Science
#1
UC Davis
#2
Cornell
#3
Texas A&M
#4
Colorado State
#5
Penn State
Related Majors
Animal Science Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Animal Science Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for animal science programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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