by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1 U.S. colleges awarded 11 degrees and certificates in Animal Nutrition. Graduates earn a median $34,873 one year after completing, rising to $49,436 after four years.
Studying Animal Nutrition involves the study of Animal Nutrition. A Program That Focuses On The Biology And Chemistry Of Proteins, Fats, Carbohydrates, Water, Vitamins, And Feed Additives As Related To Animal Health And The Production Of Improved Animal Products. Includes Instruction In Nutrition Science, Animal Health And Physiology, Biochemistry, Cellular And Molecular Biology, Animal Husbandry, And Food Science.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., animal nutrition is a popular field of study, with 11 degrees awarded annually. 1 colleges award animal nutrition degrees, an average of 11 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 11.
All 11 of the awards are doctorates, the only level colleges reported.
Women earned 91% of animal nutrition degrees and certificates in the latest year (10 of 11). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (8) and Hispanic or Latino (2), and international students earned 1.
O*NET rates Active Listening the most important skill for jobs related to animal nutrition, at 4.2 out of 5. The key knowledge areas are Education and Training, English Language and Biology. 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 nutrition degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 11 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to animal nutrition, 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% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 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 Animal Nutrition, 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, Extension Agent, Home Economist and Farm Business Management Agent.
The occupation related to animal nutrition 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% |
Animal Nutrition 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 nutrition 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 |
Animal Nutrition has 7 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 8,766 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 |
| Agricultural Animal Breeding | 31 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.