by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 264 U.S. colleges awarded 8,916 degrees and certificates in Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 46% of graduates. College Factual ranks 209 schools in its 2027 Best Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $30,459 one year after completing, rising to $38,947 after four years.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians draws strong interest, with 8,916 degrees awarded annually. 264 colleges award veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians degrees, an average of 34 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 250.
By level, the 8,916 awards include 1,536 certificates, 4,123 associate degrees, 506 bachelor’s degrees and 2,710 master’s degrees.
Women earned 89% of veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians degrees and certificates in the latest year (7,910 of 8,916). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (4,271) and Hispanic or Latino (3,306), and international students earned 22.
College Factual ranks 209 schools in its 2027 Best Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians Schools ranking, including 144 for associate degrees and 19 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians schools within 27 states. In all, 264 colleges offer veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians credential is the associate degree: 4,123 of the 8,916 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians call most for Active Listening, Critical Thinking and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, English Language and Medicine and Dentistry, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Deductive Reasoning.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1,536 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 4,123 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 506 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,710 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians, at 44.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 44.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 15.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 11.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 7.3% |
| Master’s degree | 6.1% |
| Some college courses | 5.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 4.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 3.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians, with an average median salary of $47,384; the strongest outlook belongs to Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT), Veterinarian Lab Technician (Veterinary Lab Tech), Veterinary Technician (Vet Tech) and Veterinary Assistant (Vet Assistant).
The occupation related to veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians with the most projected jobs is Veterinary Technologists and Technicians, at 1,855,145.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | 1,855,145 | -4.7% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | 1,136,691 | 13.0% |
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians graduates earn a median $30,459 one year after completing their program, $38,947 after four years and $36,429 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $30,459 |
| 4 years | $38,947 |
| 5 years | $36,429 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians, with a median salary of $48,340.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $48,340 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $47,148 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians includes 2 concentrations that together award 8,916 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant (8,874) and Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians, Other (42). It has 18 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 45,217 degrees a year; the largest are Agricultural Business and Management (8,920), Animal Sciences (8,777) and Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services (4,242). Browse all Agriculture majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant | 8,874 |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians, Other | 42 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Business and Management | 8,920 |
| Animal Sciences | 8,777 |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | 4,242 |
| Veterinary Medicine | 3,882 |
| Agricultural Production Operations | 3,822 |
| Plant Sciences | 3,510 |
| Agriculture, General | 3,002 |
| Food Science and Technology | 2,250 |
| Agricultural Mechanization | 1,491 |
| Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services | 1,217 |
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