Animal Sciences programs

CIP 0109 · Agriculture & Animal Sciences · ranked by median earnings four years after completion

79 institutions report graduate earnings for Animal Sciences programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $49,225 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41× and 80% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 2 of the 85 programs with both earnings and a benchmark fall below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026); the rest clear it.

National ranking

#	Institution	Earn 4yr	% > threshold	Median debt	Debt/earn	Earnings premium	2 of 3 yrs
1	Kansas State UniversityKS · Master's	$96,821 n=16	—	—	—	Above +65%	—
2	University of Nebraska-LincolnNE · Master's	$90,085 n=19	—	—	—	Above +55%	—
3	Texas A&M University-College StationTX · Master's	$75,323 n=29	80% 5yr	—	—	Above +15%	Clears 2/2
4	University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL · Master's	$69,841 n=17	80% 1yr	—	—	Above +2%	—
5	University of GeorgiaGA · Bachelor's	$61,176 n=67	89% 5yr	$18,250	0.30×	Above +73%	Clears 2/2
6	University of Massachusetts-AmherstMA · Bachelor's	$59,543 n=22	91% 5yr	$26,724	0.45×	Above +37%	Clears 2/2
7	University of Wisconsin-MadisonWI · Bachelor's	$57,605 n=48	92% 5yr	$25,000	0.43×	Above +48%	Clears 2/2
8	Texas A&M University-College StationTX · Bachelor's	$57,324 n=243	61%	$17,592	0.31×	Above +60%	Clears 2/2
9	University of Maryland-College ParkMD · Bachelor's	$56,248 n=33	92% 5yr	$21,500	0.38×	Above +34%	Clears 2/2
10	University of ArkansasAR · Bachelor's	$56,136 n=47	100%	$21,616	0.39×	Above +65%	Clears 2/2
11	Texas Tech UniversityTX · Bachelor's	$55,753 n=90	58%	$20,000	0.36×	Above +56%	Clears 2/2
12	Stephen F Austin State UniversityTX · Bachelor's	$54,984 n=44	81% 5yr	$20,250	0.37×	Above +54%	Below 1/2
13	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoCA · Bachelor's	$54,805 n=118	87% 5yr	$20,500	0.37×	Above +43%	Clears 2/2
14	Michigan State UniversityMI · Bachelor's	$54,751 n=124	65%	$25,023	0.46×	Above +56%	Clears 2/2
15	Rutgers University-New BrunswickNJ · Bachelor's	$54,509 n=71	80% 5yr	$24,250	0.45×	Above +37%	Below 1/2
16	Purdue University-Main CampusIN · Bachelor's	$54,089 n=134	93% 5yr	$19,500	0.36×	Above +44%	Clears 2/2
17	Oklahoma State University-Main CampusOK · Bachelor's	$53,971 n=197	18%	$18,750	0.35×	Above +52%	Clears 2/2
18	Colorado State University-Fort CollinsCO · Bachelor's	$53,934 n=55	80%	$21,500	0.40×	Above +30%	Clears 2/2
19	University of KentuckyKY · Bachelor's	$53,918 n=42	88% 5yr	$20,800	0.39×	Above +55%	Clears 2/2
20	South Dakota State UniversitySD · Bachelor's	$53,784 n=117	86% 5yr	$21,349	0.40×	Above +46%	Clears 2/2
21	California State University-FresnoCA · Bachelor's	$53,579 n=76	77% 5yr	$17,500	0.33×	Above +39%	Clears 2/2
22	University of Wisconsin-PlattevilleWI · Bachelor's	$53,530 n=95	64%	$18,748	0.35×	Above +37%	Clears 2/2
23	Northwest Missouri State UniversityMO · Bachelor's	$53,418 n=32	73% 1yr	$18,089	0.34×	Above +49%	Clears 2/2
24	North Carolina State University at RaleighNC · Bachelor's	$53,226 n=151	86% 5yr	$20,921	0.39×	Above +55%	Clears 2/2
25	Auburn UniversityAL · Bachelor's	$53,117 n=72	87% 5yr	$19,500	0.37×	Above +54%	Clears 2/2
26	California State Polytechnic University-PomonaCA · Bachelor's	$53,017 n=93	85% 5yr	$15,167	0.29×	Above +38%	Clears 2/2
27	Cornell UniversityNY · Bachelor's	$52,967 n=62	73%	$12,730	0.24×	Above +39%	Clears 2/2
28	Mississippi State UniversityMS · Bachelor's	$52,755 n=62	87% 5yr	$19,719	0.37×	Above +60%	Clears 2/2
29	West Virginia UniversityWV · Bachelor's	$52,548 n=76	63%	$19,500	0.37×	Above +50%	Clears 2/2
30	Iowa State UniversityIA · Bachelor's	$51,644 n=293	66%	$20,500	0.40×	Above +34%	Clears 2/2
31	University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMN · Bachelor's	$51,271 n=106	93% 5yr	$19,000	0.37×	Above +28%	Clears 2/2
32	Texas State UniversityTX · Bachelor's	$51,157 n=27	88% 5yr	$20,875	0.41×	Above +43%	Clears 2/2
33	North Dakota State University-Main CampusND · Bachelor's	$50,975 n=60	78% 5yr	$21,439	0.42×	Above +24%	Clears 2/2
34	Kansas State UniversityKS · Bachelor's	$50,941 n=205	34%	$20,500	0.40×	Above +40%	Clears 2/2
35	University of MaineME · Bachelor's	$50,825 n=26	95% 5yr	$25,000	0.49×	Above +39%	—
36	Ohio State University-Main CampusOH · Bachelor's	$50,769 n=168	62%	$21,500	0.42×	Above +38%	Clears 2/2
37	SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at CobleskillNY · Bachelor's	$50,491 n=194	34%	$20,000	0.40×	Above +33%	Clears 2/2
38	University of Rhode IslandRI · Bachelor's	$50,203 n=73	86% 5yr	$19,613	0.39×	Above +20%	Below 1/2
39	University of DelawareDE · Bachelor's	$49,999 n=18	79% 1yr	$22,683	0.45×	Above +30%	—
40	Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusPA · Bachelor's	$49,772 n=105	90% 5yr	$25,000	0.50×	Above +32%	Clears 2/2
41	The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleTN · Bachelor's	$49,656 n=95	50%	$20,265	0.41×	Above +42%	Clears 2/2
42	Sam Houston State UniversityTX · Bachelor's	$49,636 n=85	55%	$19,750	0.40×	Above +39%	Clears 2/2
43	Delaware Valley UniversityPA · Bachelor's	$49,225 n=88	83%	$25,569	0.52×	Above +31%	Clears 2/2
44	University of Nebraska-LincolnNE · Bachelor's	$49,193 n=92	78%	$20,645	0.42×	Above +32%	Clears 2/2
45	University of WyomingWY · Bachelor's	$49,092 n=37	68% 5yr	$17,750	0.36×	Above +22%	—
46	University of Wisconsin-River FallsWI · Bachelor's	$48,680 n=187	58%	$21,224	0.44×	Above +25%	Clears 2/2
47	California State University-ChicoCA · Bachelor's	$48,474 n=104	87% 5yr	$17,606	0.36×	Above +26%	Clears 2/2
48	University of VermontVT · Bachelor's	$48,468 n=50	56%	$23,250	0.48×	Above +24%	Below 1/2
49	University of California-DavisCA · Bachelor's	$48,441 n=247	48%	$13,000	0.27×	Above +26%	Clears 2/2
50	North Carolina A & T State UniversityNC · Bachelor's	$48,155 n=65	78% 5yr	$27,156	0.56×	Above +40%	Below 1/2
51	University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL · Bachelor's	$48,026 n=84	88%	$19,000	0.40×	Above +27%	Clears 2/2
52	Ohio State University-Main CampusOH · Associate	$47,995 n=55	92% 5yr	$12,000	0.25×	Above +30%	Clears 2/2
53	University of Missouri-ColumbiaMO · Bachelor's	$47,983 n=101	44%	$19,500	0.41×	Above +34%	Clears 2/2
54	Clemson UniversitySC · Bachelor's	$47,853 n=64	69%	$21,500	0.45×	Above +39%	Clears 2/2
55	University of FloridaFL · Bachelor's	$47,724 n=86	55%	$15,000	0.31×	Above +41%	Clears 2/2
56	University of ConnecticutCT · Bachelor's	$47,577 n=54	90% 5yr	$22,500	0.47×	Above +13%	Clears 2/2
57	University of Connecticut-Avery PointCT · Bachelor's	$47,577 n=54	90% 5yr	$22,500	0.47×	Above +13%	Clears 2/2
58	University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusCT · Bachelor's	$47,577 n=54	90% 5yr	$22,500	0.47×	Above +13%	Clears 2/2
59	University of Connecticut-StamfordCT · Bachelor's	$47,577 n=54	90% 5yr	$22,500	0.47×	Above +13%	Clears 2/2
60	University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusCT · Bachelor's	$47,577 n=54	90% 5yr	$22,500	0.47×	Above +13%	Clears 2/2
61	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVA · Bachelor's	$47,224 n=115	52%	$22,250	0.47×	Above +24%	Clears 2/2
62	The University of FindlayOH · Bachelor's	$46,977 n=54	89% 5yr	$26,000	0.55×	Above +28%	Clears 2/2
63	Montana State UniversityMT · Bachelor's	$46,313 n=48	50%	$23,149	0.50×	Above +34%	Below 1/2
64	Oregon State UniversityOR · Bachelor's	$45,959 n=74	53%	$21,391	0.47×	Above +25%	Clears 2/2
65	Oregon State University-Cascades CampusOR · Bachelor's	$45,959 n=74	53%	$21,391	0.47×	Above +25%	Clears 2/2
66	Angelo State UniversityTX · Bachelor's	$45,758 n=27	97% 5yr	$18,625	0.41×	Above +28%	—
67	University of ArizonaAZ · Bachelor's	$45,548 n=27	70% 5yr	$18,527	0.41×	Above +24%	Clears 2/2
68	Texas A&M University-KingsvilleTX · Bachelor's	$44,214 n=25	—	$22,400	0.51×	Above +24%	—
69	Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeLA · Bachelor's	$43,797 n=40	86% 5yr	$22,750	0.52×	Above +26%	Clears 2/2
70	Tarleton State UniversityTX · Bachelor's	$43,185 n=95	35%	$20,810	0.48×	Above +21%	Clears 2/2
71	University of Hawaii at ManoaHI · Bachelor's	$42,671 n=17	—	$23,027	0.54×	Above +5%	Below 1/2
72	SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at CobleskillNY · Associate	$42,663 n=18	—	$12,000	0.28×	Above +12%	Below 1/2
73	College of the OzarksMO · Bachelor's	$42,296 n=17	—	—	—	Above +18%	Below 1/2
74	Middle Tennessee State UniversityTN · Bachelor's	$41,965 n=62	42%	$18,166	0.43×	Above +20%	Below 1/2
75	Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleIL · Bachelor's	$41,932 n=51	84% 5yr	$21,936	0.52×	Above +11%	Below 1/2
76	Southeast Missouri State UniversityMO · Bachelor's	$41,706 n=19	—	$15,305	0.37×	Above +17%	Below 1/2
77	Missouri State University-SpringfieldMO · Bachelor's	$41,658 n=61	84% 5yr	$19,593	0.47×	Above +16%	Below 1/2
78	Washington State UniversityWA · Bachelor's	$41,634 n=46	78%	$18,000	0.43×	Below -2%	Below 2/2
79	East Texas A&M UniversityTX · Bachelor's	$41,105 n=21	—	$19,000	0.46×	Above +15%	—
80	University of IdahoID · Bachelor's	$40,935 n=23	80% 5yr	$25,000	0.61×	Above +15%	Clears 2/2
81	Tuskegee UniversityAL · Bachelor's	$39,949 n=28	74% 5yr	$27,000	0.68×	Above +16%	Clears 2/2
82	University of Puerto Rico-MayaguezPR · Bachelor's	$37,629 n=86	55% 5yr	$7,125	0.19×	Above +129%	Clears 2/2
83	New Mexico State University-Main CampusNM · Bachelor's	$36,858 n=42	81%	$18,489	0.50×	Above +13%	Clears 2/2
84	Louisiana Tech UniversityLA · Bachelor's	$36,769 n=24	—	$24,800	0.67×	Above +6%	—
85	University of New Hampshire-Main CampusNH · Associate	$31,072 n=22	65% 5yr	$12,000	0.39×	Below -30%	Below 2/2

% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years — the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.

By state — median earnings, 4 yrs out

State	Median earn 4yr	Programs
Wisconsin	$53,530	3
California	$53,017	5
New York	$50,491	3
Texas	$50,396	10
Illinois	$48,026	3
Ohio	$47,995	3
Connecticut	$47,577	5
Missouri	$42,296	5

States with at least 3 reporting Animal Sciences programs, by median graduate earnings.

Frequently asked

Which colleges have the highest-paying Animal Sciences programs?

By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Animal Sciences programs in this dataset are Kansas State University ($96,821), University of Nebraska-Lincoln ($90,085), Texas A&M University-College Station ($75,323). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.

Are Animal Sciences programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?

Indicatively, 2 of the 85 Animal Sciences programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.

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Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.