Animal Science Degree in Lincoln, NE — Salary & ROI 2026
Animal Science degree analysis for Lincoln, NE. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$43K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$53K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.2 yrs
in Lincoln
Cost of Living
85
index (100 = avg)
Animal Science in Lincoln, NE Overview
Lincoln, Nebraska (pop. 291,082) has 9 colleges offering Animal Science programs. The local cost of living index of 85 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $867/month. Animal Science enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Animal Nutrition and Genetics. The adjusted starting salary in Lincoln is approximately $42,500.
Category
Agriculture
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$9,242/yr
Private Tuition
$36,730/yr
Room & Board
$10,611/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,317/yr
Unemployment
5.9%
Graduation Rate
57%
Animal Science Salary in Lincoln (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lincoln's cost of living index of 85 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Animal Science salary: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Lincoln adjustment factor: 0.85x based on the local cost of living index.
Animal Science ROI Calculator for Lincoln
Estimate your return on investment for a Animal Science degree using local Lincoln tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,242 | Private avg: $36,730
Lincoln avg aid: $13,317/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$79,412
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,750
vs HS diploma in Lincoln
ROI Payback Period
6.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lincoln
$218,088
Lifetime earnings premium ($297,500) minus total education cost ($79,412)
Student Loan Payoff for Animal Science in Lincoln
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lincoln for Animal Science
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
public
$9,242/yr
$36,968 total
Nebraska Wesleyan University
private
$36,730/yr
$146,920 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Southeast Community College
$3,540/yr
Top Employers for Animal Science in Lincoln
Lincoln offers opportunities in Agribusiness, Government agencies, Research institutes for Animal Science graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lincoln Hiring Sectors for Agriculture
Agribusiness
Government agencies
Research institutes
Food companies
Conservation orgs
Common Animal Science Job Titles
Animal Science in Nearby Nebraska Cities
Other Agriculture Majors in Lincoln
Animal Science Degree in Lincoln — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Animal Science ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Lincoln.