by our College Data Analytics TeamPoultry Science was the 798th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 214 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 24.3% increase in poultry science degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 162.
Our 2023 Best Poultry Science Schools ranking analyzes 6 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for poultry science students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of poultry science programs later in this article.
When studying Poultry Science, you’ll learn that using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. Required skills include talking to others to convey information effectively and considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most poultry science degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic poultry science program qualifications, to serve in some poultry science careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are many different poultry science degree levels. You can spend many years getting as high as a in poultry science to something that takes less time like a . Depending on the poultry science degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| 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 poultry science, with approximately 26.8% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for poultry science workers below.
| 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% |
About 65.2% of workers in careers related to poultry science obtain at least bachelor's degrees. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in poultry science have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which poultry science career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your poultry science degree?
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to poultry 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 poultry science graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for poultry science graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers poultry 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 25 different poultry 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 poultry science school rankings to help you with this.
Poultry Science is one of 7 different types of Animal Science programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Animal Sciences, General | 7,647 |
| Dairy Science | 216 |
| Animal Sciences, Other | 153 |
| Livestock Management | 30 |
| Animal Health | 21 |
Image Credit: By Billy Hathorn under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
