by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 9 U.S. colleges awarded 63 degrees and certificates in Dairy Husbandry & Production. Certificates are the most popular award, at 43% of graduates. College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Dairy 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.
A major in Dairy Husbandry & Production explores Dairy Husbandry And Production. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Manage The Selection And Care Of Dairy Animals And Associated Dairy Farm And Processing Facilities And Operations. Includes Instruction In Basic Animal And Dairy Science; Dairy Animal Nutrition And Health; Design And Operation Of Dairy Housing, Feeding, And Processing Facilities And Equipment; And Related Issues Of Safety, Sanitation, Shipping And Handling, And Applicable Regulations.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., dairy husbandry & production is a popular field of study, with 63 degrees awarded annually. 9 colleges award dairy husbandry & production degrees, an average of 7 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 18.
By level, the 63 awards include 27 certificates, 16 associate degrees, 1 bachelor’s degrees and 19 master’s degrees.
Women earned 71% of dairy husbandry & production degrees and certificates in the latest year (45 of 63). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (58) and Hispanic or Latino (3).
College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Dairy Husbandry & Production Schools ranking, including 1 for associate degrees. It also ranks dairy husbandry & production schools within 1 state. In all, 9 colleges offer dairy husbandry & production programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Dairy Husbandry & Production Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common dairy husbandry & production credential is the certificate: 27 of the 63 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to dairy husbandry & production call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Food Production, 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 a dairy husbandry & production degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 27 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 16 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 19 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to dairy husbandry & production, at 68.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 68.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 3.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 3.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.9% |
| Some college courses | 0.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Dairy Husbandry & Production, with an average median salary of $59,144; the strongest outlook belongs to Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, at 14.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Adjunct Instructor, Family Development Extension Specialist, County Agricultural Agent and 4-H Youth Development Educator.
The occupation related to dairy 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% |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 231,384 | 14.7% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | 33,611 | -0.6% |
Dairy 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 dairy husbandry & production, with a median salary of $84,680.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | $84,680 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $55,950 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $36,803 |
Dairy Husbandry & Production has 7 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 3,759 degrees a year; the largest are Agricultural Production Operations, General (970), Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production (862) and Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture (774). Browse all Agriculture majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Production Operations, General | 970 |
| Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production | 862 |
| Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture | 774 |
| Crop Production | 526 |
| Horse Husbandry/Equine Science and Management | 485 |
| Aquaculture | 132 |
| Agricultural Production Operations, Other | 10 |
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