by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 12 U.S. colleges awarded 308 degrees and certificates in Animal Behavior & Ethology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 86% of graduates. College Factual ranks 7 schools in its 2027 Best Animal Behavior & Ethology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $29,186 one year after completing, rising to $49,957 after four years.
Studying Animal Behavior & Ethology covers Animal Behavior And Ethology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Psychological And Neurological Bases Of Animal Sensation, Perception, Cognition, Behavior, And Behavioral Interactions Within And Outside The Species. Includes Instruction In Ethology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Neurobiology, Behavioral Evolution, Cognition And Sensory Perception, Motivators, Learning And Instinct, Hormonal Controls, Reproductive And Developmental Biology, Community Ecology, Functional Behavior, And Applications To Specific Behaviors And Patterns As Well As To Specific Phyla And Species.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., animal behavior & ethology is a popular field of study, with 308 degrees awarded annually. 12 colleges award animal behavior & ethology degrees, an average of 26 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 94.
By level, the 308 awards include 266 bachelor’s degrees, 35 master’s degrees and 7 doctorates.
Women earned 86% of animal behavior & ethology degrees and certificates in the latest year (266 of 308). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (241) and Hispanic or Latino (29), and international students earned 4.
College Factual ranks 7 schools in its 2027 Best Animal Behavior & Ethology Schools ranking, including 7 for bachelor’s degrees and 1 for master’s degrees. It also ranks animal behavior & ethology schools within 6 states. In all, 12 colleges offer animal behavior & ethology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Animal Behavior & Ethology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common animal behavior & ethology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 266 of the 308 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to animal behavior & ethology call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Biology, English Language and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Inductive Reasoning, Oral Comprehension and Oral Expression.
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How long an animal behavior & ethology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 266 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 35 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 7 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to animal behavior & ethology, at 52.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 52.6% |
| Master’s degree | 34.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 7.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.5% |
| Some college courses | 0.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Animal Behavior & Ethology, with an average median salary of $77,857; the strongest outlook belongs to Biological Technicians, at 12.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Biology Research Assistant, Wildlife Biology Technician, Medical Research Assistant and Game Technician.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to animal behavior & ethology, at 224,048.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Technicians | 224,048 | 12.8% |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | 159,217 | -1.2% |
Animal Behavior & Ethology graduates earn a median $29,186 one year after completing their program, $49,957 after four years and $51,678 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $29,186 |
| 4 years | $49,957 |
| 5 years | $51,678 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to animal behavior & ethology, with a median salary of $100,160.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Biological Technicians | $100,160 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $55,554 |
Animal Behavior & Ethology has 5 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 3,139 degrees a year; the largest are Zoology/Animal Biology (1,750), Wildlife Biology (650) and Entomology (476). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 1,750 |
| Wildlife Biology | 650 |
| Entomology | 476 |
| Animal Physiology | 238 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology, Other | 25 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
