by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 55 U.S. colleges awarded 862 degrees and certificates in Animal/Livestock Husbandry & Production. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 45% of graduates. College Factual ranks 29 schools in its 2027 Best Animal/Livestock Husbandry & Production Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $38,195 one year after completing, rising to $50,144 after four years.
Studying Animal/Livestock Husbandry & Production involves the study of Animal/livestock Husbandry And Production. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Select, Breed, Care For, Process, And Market Livestock And Small Farm Animals. Includes Instruction In Basic Animal Science, Animal Nutrition, And Animal Health As Applied To Various Species And Breeds; Design And Operation Of Housing, Feeding, And Processing Facilities; And Related Issues Of Safety, Applicable Regulations, Logistics, And Supply.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, animal/livestock husbandry & production is a popular field of study, with 862 degrees awarded annually. 55 colleges award animal/livestock husbandry & production degrees, an average of 16 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 99.
By level, the 862 awards include 125 certificates, 392 associate degrees, 13 bachelor’s degrees and 325 master’s degrees.
Women earned 74% of animal/livestock husbandry & production degrees and certificates in the latest year (634 of 862). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (556) and Hispanic or Latino (222), and international students earned 1.
College Factual ranks 29 schools in its 2027 Best Animal/Livestock Husbandry & Production Schools ranking, including 20 for associate degrees. It also ranks animal/livestock husbandry & production schools within 7 states. In all, 55 colleges offer animal/livestock husbandry & production programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Animal/Livestock Husbandry & Production Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common animal/livestock husbandry & production credential is the associate degree: 392 of the 862 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to animal/livestock husbandry & production call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Biology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an animal/livestock husbandry & production degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 125 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 392 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 13 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 325 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to animal/livestock husbandry & production, at 53.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 53.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 12.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 11.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.7% |
| Some college courses | 0.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to Animal/Livestock Husbandry & Production, with an average median salary of $58,778; the strongest outlook belongs to Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, at 14.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Adjunct Instructor, Community Educator, Farm Agent and County Extension Agent.
The occupation related to animal/livestock husbandry & production with the most projected jobs is Farm and Home Management Educators, at 1,304,119.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Farm and Home Management Educators | 1,304,119 | 14.0% |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 231,384 | 14.7% |
| Animal Breeders | 118,381 | 1.0% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | 33,611 | -0.6% |
Animal/Livestock Husbandry & Production graduates earn a median $38,195 one year after completing their program, $50,144 after four years and $47,551 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $38,195 |
| 4 years | $50,144 |
| 5 years | $47,551 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to animal/livestock husbandry & production, with a median salary of $84,680.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | $84,680 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $55,950 |
| Animal Breeders | $49,553 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $36,803 |
Animal/Livestock Husbandry & Production has 7 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 2,960 degrees a year; the largest are Agricultural Production Operations, General (970), Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture (774) and Crop Production (526). Browse all Agriculture majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Production Operations, General | 970 |
| Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture | 774 |
| Crop Production | 526 |
| Horse Husbandry/Equine Science and Management | 485 |
| Aquaculture | 132 |
| Dairy Husbandry and Production | 63 |
| Agricultural Production Operations, Other | 10 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
