by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 9 U.S. colleges awarded 230 degrees and certificates in Animal Health. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 47% of graduates. College Factual ranks 6 schools in its 2027 Best Animal Health 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 major in Animal Health explores Animal Health. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Biological And Chemical Principles To The Study, Prevention, And Control Of Diseases In Agricultural Animal Populations. Includes Instruction In Environmental Science, Pharmacology, Animal Population Studies, Genetics, Animal Physiology And Diet, Disease Prevention, Treatment Methodologies, And Laboratory And Testing Procedures.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., animal health draws strong interest, with 230 degrees awarded annually. 9 colleges award animal health degrees, an average of 26 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 70.
By level, the 230 awards include 28 associate degrees, 93 bachelor’s degrees and 109 master’s degrees.
Women earned 86% of animal health degrees and certificates in the latest year (199 of 230). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (167) and Hispanic or Latino (25), and international students earned 8.
College Factual ranks 6 schools in its 2027 Best Animal Health Schools ranking, including 2 for associate degrees, 5 for bachelor’s degrees and 3 for master’s degrees. It also ranks animal health schools within 3 states. In all, 9 colleges offer animal health programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Animal Health Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common animal health credential is the master’s degree: 109 of the 230 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to animal health call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Biology, Administration and Management and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an animal health degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 28 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 93 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 109 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to animal health, at 52.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 52.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 24.0% |
| Master’s degree | 15.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 3.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.7% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Animal Health, with an average median salary of $81,802; the strongest outlook belongs to Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, at 14.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Horticulture Manager, Soil Biology Teacher, Animal Nutrition Teacher and College Professor.
The occupation related to animal health with the most projected jobs is Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, at 297,433.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 231,384 | 14.7% |
| Animal Scientists | 77,353 | -1.4% |
Animal Health 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 animal health 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 |
Animal Health has 7 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 8,547 degrees a year; the largest are Animal Sciences, General (7,927), Animal Sciences, Other (277) and Poultry Science (140). Browse all Agriculture majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Animal Sciences, General | 7,927 |
| Animal Sciences, Other | 277 |
| Poultry Science | 140 |
| Dairy Science | 125 |
| Livestock Management | 36 |
| Agricultural Animal Breeding | 31 |
| Animal Nutrition | 11 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
