by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 14 U.S. colleges awarded 125 degrees and certificates in Dairy Science. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 53% of graduates. College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Dairy Science 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 Dairy Science explores Dairy Science. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Biological And Chemical Principles To The Production And Management Of Dairy Animals And The Production And Handling Of Dairy Products. Includes Instruction In Animal Sciences, Nutrition Sciences, Food Science And Technology, Biochemistry, And Related Aspects Of Human And Animal Health And Safety.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, dairy science is a popular field of study, with 125 degrees awarded annually. 14 colleges award dairy science degrees, an average of 9 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 20.
By level, the 125 awards include 8 certificates, 27 associate degrees, 66 bachelor’s degrees, 4 master’s degrees and 5 doctorates.
Women earned 70% of dairy science degrees and certificates in the latest year (87 of 125). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (105) and Hispanic or Latino (5), and international students earned 7.
College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Dairy Science Schools ranking, including 1 for associate degrees, 2 for bachelor’s degrees and 1 for master’s degrees. It also ranks dairy science schools within 4 states. In all, 14 colleges offer dairy science programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Dairy Science Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common dairy science credential is the bachelor’s degree: 66 of the 125 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to dairy science 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:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a dairy science degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 8 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 27 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 66 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 5 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to dairy science, at 47.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 47.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 14.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 13.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.7% |
| Some college courses | 0.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
7 occupations are related to Dairy Science, with an average median salary of $62,730; the strongest outlook belongs to Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, at 14.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Adjunct Instructor, County Extension Agent, Youth Development Professional and Farm Advisor.
The occupation related to dairy science 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% |
| Precision Agriculture Technicians | 167,331 | 6.9% |
| Agricultural Technicians | 142,810 | 8.4% |
| Animal Scientists | 77,353 | -1.4% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | 33,611 | -0.6% |
Dairy Science 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 dairy science 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 |
| Precision Agriculture Technicians | $56,932 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $55,950 |
| Agricultural Technicians | $44,022 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $36,803 |
Dairy Science has 7 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 8,652 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 |
| Livestock Management | 36 |
| Agricultural Animal Breeding | 31 |
| Animal Nutrition | 11 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
