Zoology/Animal Biology programs
CIP 2607 · Biological & Biomedical Sciences · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
50 institutions report graduate earnings for Zoology/Animal Biology programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $44,214 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47× and 72% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 6 of the 54 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.
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of FloridaFL · Doctoral | $94,713 n=20 | — | — | — | Above +71% | Clears 2/2 |
| 2 | North Carolina State University at RaleighNC · Doctoral | $80,719 n=20 | — | — | — | Above +37% | — |
| 3 | University of Nebraska-LincolnNE · Master's | $76,344 n=17 | — | — | — | Above +31% | — |
| 4 | University of FloridaFL · Master's | $73,457 n=16 | 90% 1yr | — | — | Above +32% | — |
| 5 | University of ConnecticutCT · Bachelor's | $69,471 n=39 | 88% 5yr | $23,250 | 0.34× | Above +65% | Clears 2/2 |
| 6 | University of Connecticut-Avery PointCT · Bachelor's | $69,471 n=39 | 88% 5yr | $23,250 | 0.34× | Above +65% | Clears 2/2 |
| 7 | University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusCT · Bachelor's | $69,471 n=39 | 88% 5yr | $23,250 | 0.34× | Above +65% | Clears 2/2 |
| 8 | University of Connecticut-StamfordCT · Bachelor's | $69,471 n=39 | 88% 5yr | $23,250 | 0.34× | Above +65% | Clears 2/2 |
| 9 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusCT · Bachelor's | $69,471 n=39 | 88% 5yr | $23,250 | 0.34× | Above +65% | Clears 2/2 |
| 10 | Canisius UniversityNY · Master's | $59,671 n=19 | 74% 1yr | $38,072 | 0.64× | Below -16% | — |
| 11 | Brigham Young UniversityUT · Bachelor's | $57,020 n=18 | 83% 5yr | $9,050 | 0.16× | Above +43% | — |
| 12 | University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusOK · Bachelor's | $55,682 n=86 | 90% 5yr | $23,250 | 0.42× | Above +57% | Clears 2/2 |
| 13 | Ohio University-Chillicothe CampusOH · Bachelor's | $55,352 n=154 | 44% | $23,356 | 0.42× | Above +50% | Clears 2/2 |
| 14 | Ohio University-Eastern CampusOH · Bachelor's | $55,352 n=154 | 44% | $23,356 | 0.42× | Above +50% | Clears 2/2 |
| 15 | Ohio University-Main CampusOH · Bachelor's | $55,352 n=154 | 44% | $23,356 | 0.42× | Above +50% | Clears 2/2 |
| 16 | Ohio University-Zanesville CampusOH · Bachelor's | $55,352 n=154 | 44% | $23,356 | 0.42× | Above +50% | Clears 2/2 |
| 17 | Tarleton State UniversityTX · Bachelor's | $54,030 n=35 | 93% 5yr | $18,500 | 0.34× | Above +51% | Below 1/2 |
| 18 | University of California-Santa BarbaraCA · Bachelor's | $53,727 n=28 | 76% 5yr | $21,500 | 0.40× | Above +40% | Clears 2/2 |
| 19 | North Dakota State University-Main CampusND · Bachelor's | $50,701 n=26 | 90% 5yr | $23,808 | 0.47× | Above +24% | Clears 2/2 |
| 20 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonWI · Bachelor's | $50,080 n=77 | 52% | $23,250 | 0.46× | Above +29% | Clears 2/2 |
| 21 | Berry CollegeGA · Bachelor's | $48,958 n=39 | 53% 1yr | $22,500 | 0.46× | Above +39% | — |
| 22 | Kansas State UniversityKS · Bachelor's | $48,908 n=35 | 42% 1yr | $21,750 | 0.45× | Above +34% | — |
| 23 | Indiana University-BloomingtonIN · Bachelor's | $48,161 n=26 | — | $19,500 | 0.41× | Above +29% | — |
| 24 | San Francisco State UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $45,722 n=31 | 75% 5yr | $11,000 | 0.24× | Above +19% | Clears 2/2 |
| 25 | Ohio State University-Main CampusOH · Bachelor's | $45,501 n=81 | 84% | $21,375 | 0.47× | Above +24% | Clears 2/2 |
| 26 | University of WyomingWY · Bachelor's | $44,424 n=46 | 73% 5yr | $19,221 | 0.43× | Above +10% | Below 1/2 |
| 27 | Colorado State University-Fort CollinsCO · Bachelor's | $44,226 n=156 | 41% | $23,875 | 0.54× | Above +6% | Below 1/2 |
| 28 | Oregon State UniversityOR · Bachelor's | $44,201 n=41 | 65% 5yr | $24,596 | 0.56× | Above +20% | Below 1/2 |
| 29 | Oregon State University-Cascades CampusOR · Bachelor's | $44,201 n=41 | 65% 5yr | $24,596 | 0.56× | Above +20% | Below 1/2 |
| 30 | Texas State UniversityTX · Bachelor's | $43,943 n=59 | 71% 5yr | $25,000 | 0.57× | Above +23% | Clears 2/2 |
| 31 | Frostburg State UniversityMD · Bachelor's | $43,434 n=23 | 49% 1yr | $18,750 | 0.43× | Above +3% | — |
| 32 | Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleIL · Bachelor's | $43,207 n=61 | 46% | $19,750 | 0.46× | Above +15% | Below 1/2 |
| 33 | University of New EnglandME · Bachelor's | $42,941 n=38 | 83% 5yr | $26,948 | 0.63× | Above +18% | Clears 2/2 |
| 34 | Miami University-OxfordOH · Bachelor's | $42,883 n=45 | 64% | $22,500 | 0.53× | Above +16% | Below 1/2 |
| 35 | SUNY College of Environmental Science and ForestryNY · Bachelor's | $42,505 n=36 | 81% 5yr | $17,343 | 0.41× | Above +12% | Clears 2/2 |
| 36 | Oklahoma State University-Main CampusOK · Bachelor's | $42,474 n=30 | — | $20,500 | 0.48× | Above +20% | — |
| 37 | University of FloridaFL · Bachelor's | $41,961 n=25 | 90% 5yr | $17,603 | 0.42× | Above +24% | — |
| 38 | Washington State UniversityWA · Bachelor's | $41,888 n=40 | 87% 5yr | $17,625 | 0.42× | Below -2% | Below 2/2 |
| 39 | Michigan State UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $41,768 n=121 | 50% | $25,000 | 0.60× | Above +19% | Clears 2/2 |
| 40 | Texas A&M University-College StationTX · Bachelor's | $41,543 n=34 | 74% 5yr | $16,713 | 0.40× | Above +16% | — |
| 41 | University of New Hampshire-Main CampusNH · Bachelor's | $41,343 n=23 | 82% 5yr | $23,250 | 0.56× | Below -7% | Below 2/2 |
| 42 | Liberty UniversityVA · Bachelor's | $41,103 n=22 | — | $24,393 | 0.59× | Above +8% | — |
| 43 | State University of New York at OswegoNY · Bachelor's | $40,755 n=62 | 50% | $22,500 | 0.55× | Above +7% | Below 1/2 |
| 44 | Delaware Valley UniversityPA · Bachelor's | $40,575 n=27 | 86% 5yr | $26,400 | 0.65× | Above +8% | Below 1/2 |
| 45 | Canisius UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $40,174 n=62 | 47% | $23,250 | 0.58× | Above +6% | Below 1/2 |
| 46 | Carroll UniversityWI · Bachelor's | $39,677 n=22 | — | $27,000 | 0.68× | Above +2% | — |
| 47 | Friends UniversityKS · Bachelor's | $39,329 n=21 | — | $18,750 | 0.48× | Above +8% | — |
| 48 | Unity Environmental UniversityME · Bachelor's | $39,302 n=30 | 80% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.69× | Above +8% | Below 1/2 |
| 49 | Lees-McRae CollegeNC · Bachelor's | $38,699 n=38 | 71% 5yr | $23,000 | 0.59× | Above +13% | Below 1/2 |
| 50 | California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtCA · Bachelor's | $38,495 n=49 | 69% 5yr | $20,095 | 0.52× | Above +0% | Below 1/2 |
| 51 | North Carolina State University at RaleighNC · Bachelor's | $38,440 n=49 | 39% 1yr | $20,500 | 0.53× | Above +12% | Below 1/2 |
| 52 | University of VermontVT · Bachelor's | $38,421 n=38 | 53% | $22,250 | 0.58× | Below -2% | Below 2/2 |
| 53 | University of MaineME · Bachelor's | $36,078 n=24 | 67% 1yr | $26,841 | 0.74× | Below -1% | — |
| 54 | Kent State University at KentOH · Bachelor's | $35,875 n=58 | 47% | $25,000 | 0.70× | Below -3% | 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.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | $73,457 | 3 |
| Connecticut | $69,471 | 5 |
| Ohio | $55,352 | 7 |
| California | $45,722 | 3 |
| Texas | $43,943 | 3 |
| New York | $41,630 | 4 |
| Maine | $39,302 | 3 |
| North Carolina | $38,699 | 3 |
States with at least 3 reporting Zoology/Animal Biology programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Zoology/Animal Biology programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Zoology/Animal Biology programs in this dataset are University of Florida ($94,713), North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($80,719), University of Nebraska-Lincoln ($76,344). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Zoology/Animal Biology programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 6 of the 54 Zoology/Animal Biology 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.