2027 Best Value Animal Science Associate’s Degree Schools
[Animal Science](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/animal-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for animal science students.
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2027 Best Value Animal Science Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in animal science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Animal Science Schools
College Of Southern Idaho tops our 2027 list of the best value animal science schools in the United States. Located in the city of Twin Falls, College Of Southern Idaho is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,360 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,840 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for animal science graduates is $11,175. Early-career animal science graduates make about $39,099. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
East Mississippi Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in animal science, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Scooba, East Mississippi Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,095, while out-of-state students pay about $7,445. Students borrow a median of $9,422 to complete the animal science program here. Animal Science graduates of East Mississippi Community College earn a median of $34,012 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeast Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value animal science schools. Set in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,840, with out-of-state students paying around $5,130. Students borrow a median of $11,937 to complete the animal science program here. Animal Science graduates of Northeast Community College earn a median of $35,931 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes College Of Western Idaho one of the best values for animal science. College Of Western Idaho is a very large public school located in the rural area of Nampa. In-state tuition and fees average $3,446, while out-of-state students pay about $7,454. Animal Science graduates carry a median of $12,497 in student loans. Early-career animal science graduates make about $40,963.
Casper College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value animal science schools. Casper College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Casper. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,410, with out-of-state students paying around $10,710. Animal Science graduates carry a median of $12,598 in student loans. Animal Science graduates of Casper College earn a median of $49,729 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Morehead State University earned the #6 position for value in animal science this year. Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Morehead. In-state tuition and fees average $10,024, with out-of-state students paying around $14,980. Animal Science graduates carry a median of $25,896 in student loans. Soon after graduation, animal science degree recipients from Morehead State University generally make around $41,046. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Santa Fe College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value animal science schools. Santa Fe College is a large public school located in the suburb of Gainesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,563, while out-of-state students pay about $9,189. Typical student debt for animal science graduates is $19,890. Animal Science graduates of Santa Fe College earn a median of $24,833 early in their careers. Set against $19,890 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute came in at #8 for value in animal science this year. Set in the town of Wooster, Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,584, with out-of-state students paying around $36,362. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the animal science program here. Soon after graduation, animal science degree recipients from Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute generally make around $39,743. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill placed #9 among the best values for animal science. Located in the town of Cobleskill, Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,768, with out-of-state students paying around $18,678. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the animal science program here. Early-career animal science graduates make about $37,068. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Connecticut landed the #10 spot for animal science value this year. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,044, compared with $43,712 for out-of-state students. Animal Science graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Animal Science graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $37,712 early in their careers. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Connecticut admits about 52% of applicants.
Harcum College landed the #11 spot for animal science value this year. Harcum College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bryn Mawr. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,000. Typical student debt for animal science graduates is $18,375. Soon after graduation, animal science degree recipients from Harcum College generally make around $27,932. Set against $18,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Other Animal Science Degree Levels
Explore the best-value animal science schools at other degree levels:
View All Animal Science Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
