In the latest year, 3 U.S. colleges awarded 31 degrees and certificates in Agricultural Animal Breeding. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 90% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Agricultural Animal Breeding Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $34,873 one year after completing, rising to $49,436 after four years.
A degree in Agricultural Animal Breeding involves the study of Agricultural Animal Breeding. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Genetics And Genetic Engineering To The Improvement Of Agricultural Animal Health, The Development Of New Animal Breeds, And The Selective Improvement Of Agricultural Animal Populations. Includes Instruction In Genetics, Genetic Engineering, Population Genetics, Animal Health, Animal Husbandry, And Biotechnology.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, agricultural animal breeding draws strong interest, with 31 degrees awarded annually. 3 colleges award agricultural animal breeding degrees, an average of 10 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 24.
By level, the 31 awards include 28 master’s degrees and 3 doctorates.
Women earned 52% of agricultural animal breeding degrees and certificates in the latest year (16 of 31). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (22) and Hispanic or Latino (5), and international students earned 2.
College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Agricultural Animal Breeding Schools ranking. In all, 3 colleges offer agricultural animal breeding programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Agricultural Animal Breeding Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common agricultural animal breeding credential is the master’s degree: 28 of the 31 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to agricultural animal breeding 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 Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long an agricultural animal breeding degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 28 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to agricultural animal breeding, at 57.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 57.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 15.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 12.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Agricultural Animal Breeding, with an average median salary of $75,339; the strongest outlook belongs to Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, at 14.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Adjunct Instructor, Farm Advisor, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent and Extension Worker.
The occupation related to agricultural animal breeding 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 Scientists | 77,353 | -1.4% |
Agricultural Animal Breeding graduates earn a median $34,873 one year after completing their program, $49,436 after four years and $54,093 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,873 |
| 4 years | $49,436 |
| 5 years | $54,093 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to agricultural animal breeding is Animal Scientists, with a median salary of $93,823.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Animal Scientists | $93,823 |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | $84,680 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $55,950 |
Agricultural Animal Breeding has 7 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 8,746 degrees a year; the largest are Animal Sciences, General (7,927), Animal Sciences, Other (277) and Animal Health (230). Browse all Agriculture majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Animal Sciences, General | 7,927 |
| Animal Sciences, Other | 277 |
| Animal Health | 230 |
| Poultry Science | 140 |
| Dairy Science | 125 |
| Livestock Management | 36 |
| Animal Nutrition | 11 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.