by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 6 U.S. colleges awarded 46 degrees and certificates in Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology. Doctorates are the most popular award, at 61% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $41,594 one year after completing, rising to $57,669 after four years.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, veterinary pathology and pathobiology draws strong interest, with 46 degrees awarded annually. 6 colleges award veterinary pathology and pathobiology degrees, an average of 8 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 13.
By level, the 46 awards include 18 master’s degrees and 28 doctorates.
Women earned 52% of veterinary pathology and pathobiology degrees and certificates in the latest year (24 of 46). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (21) and Hispanic or Latino (3), and international students earned 18.
College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology Schools ranking. In all, 6 colleges offer veterinary pathology and pathobiology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common veterinary pathology and pathobiology credential is the doctorate: 28 of the 46 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to veterinary pathology and pathobiology call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Active Learning, and for knowledge of Biology, Medicine and Dentistry and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a veterinary pathology and pathobiology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 18 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 28 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to veterinary pathology and pathobiology, at 62.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 62.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 13.9% |
| Master’s degree | 11.0% |
| First professional degree | 6.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 3.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology, with an average median salary of $64,561; the strongest outlook belongs to Veterinarians, at 13.9% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Animal Anatomist, Veterinary Inspector (Vet Inspector), Treatment Coordinator and Veterinarian Epidemiologist (Vet Epidemiologist).
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to veterinary pathology and pathobiology, at 3,199,646.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Veterinarians | 3,199,646 | 13.9% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Animal Scientists | 77,353 | -1.4% |
Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology graduates earn a median $41,594 one year after completing their program, $57,669 after four years and $107,990 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $41,594 |
| 4 years | $57,669 |
| 5 years | $107,990 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to veterinary pathology and pathobiology is Animal Scientists, with a median salary of $93,823.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Animal Scientists | $93,823 |
| Veterinarians | $53,196 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology has 9 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 925 degrees a year; the largest are Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General (740), Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health (63) and Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine (47). Browse all Agriculture majors or the full list of college majors.
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