by our College Data Analytics TeamDairy Science was the 817th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 216 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 18.1% reduction in dairy science degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 255.
This year's Best Dairy Science Schools ranking compares 10 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom dairy science rankings further below.
One of the most important skills you will need for a career in dairy science is using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. Talking to others to convey information effectively and considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one are all required skills for careers related to this major.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific dairy science careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are various different levels of dairy science degrees. You can get anything from a in dairy science to the highest dairy science degree, a . The type of dairy science degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A doctor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to dairy science, with approximately 26.8% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to dairy science tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 28.3% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 18.5% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 14.2% |
| High School Diploma | 12.2% |
| Master’s Degree | 10.8% |
65.2% of dairy science workers have at least a bachelor's. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in dairy science have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the dairy science career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your dairy science degree?
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to dairy science.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Agricultural Managers | 1,020,700 | -0.8% |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Worker Supervisors | 49,700 | 2.1% |
| Agricultural Sciences Professors | 13,600 | 7.9% |
| Animal Scientists | 6,400 | 4.9% |
As you might expect, salaries for dairy science graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for dairy science graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers dairy science grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences Professors | $90,890 |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Agricultural Managers | $79,940 |
| Animal Scientists | $67,690 |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Worker Supervisors | $50,790 |
With over 28 different dairy science degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased dairy science school rankings to help you with this.
One of 7 majors within the Animal Science area of study, Dairy Science has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Animal Sciences, General | 7,647 |
| Poultry Science | 214 |
| Animal Sciences, Other | 153 |
| Livestock Management | 30 |
| Animal Health | 21 |
Image Credit: By Billy Hathorn under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
