2027 Best Value Animal Science Schools in the Southwest Region
[Animal Science](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/animal-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for animal science students.
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2027 Best Value Animal Science Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in animal science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Animal Science Schools
Redlands Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value animal science schools in the Southwest Region. Redlands Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of El Reno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,385, while out-of-state students pay about $7,951. Students borrow a median of $14,682 to complete the animal science program here. Soon after graduation, animal science degree recipients from Redlands Community College generally make around $45,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in animal science will find it at Oklahoma Panhandle State University, which ranked #2. Oklahoma Panhandle State University is a small public school located in the rural area of Goodwell. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,092, compared with $8,675 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,249 to complete the animal science program here. Animal Science graduates of Oklahoma Panhandle State University earn a median of $53,151 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,249 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in animal science will find it at New Mexico State University Main Campus, which ranked #3. New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Las Cruces. Students from in state pay about $8,183 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,307. Animal Science graduates carry a median of $18,489 in student loans. Animal Science graduates of New Mexico State University Main Campus earn a median of $28,475 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,489 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Texas A And M University Commerce one of the best values for animal science. Set in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,026, compared with $22,326 for out-of-state students. Animal Science graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Animal Science graduates of Texas A And M University Commerce earn a median of $27,101 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Texas A And M University Commerce admits about 92% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in animal science will find it at Texas A And M University Kingsville, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Kingsville, Texas A And M University Kingsville is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,892, while out-of-state students pay about $25,746. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the animal science program here. Soon after graduation, animal science degree recipients from Texas A And M University Kingsville generally make around $20,036. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Texas A And M University Kingsville admits about 91% of applicants.
Angelo State University landed the #6 spot for animal science value this year. Located in the city of San Angelo, Angelo State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,460, compared with $18,300 for out-of-state students. Animal Science graduates carry a median of $19,183 in student loans. Early-career animal science graduates make about $28,820. Set against $19,183 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Sam Houston State University earned the #7 position for value in animal science this year. Sam Houston State University is a very large public school located in the town of Huntsville. Students from in state pay about $9,228 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,068. Typical student debt for animal science graduates is $21,745. Soon after graduation, animal science degree recipients from Sam Houston State University generally make around $34,051. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Sam Houston State University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Arizona ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value animal science schools. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Animal Science graduates carry a median of $18,195 in student loans. Animal Science graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $35,996 early in their careers. Set against $18,195 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
Texas State University San Marcos placed #9 among the best values for animal science. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $22,930. Students borrow a median of $21,662 to complete the animal science program here. Early-career animal science graduates make about $33,358. That is a strong return on a $21,662 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value animal science schools. Located in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,110, while out-of-state students pay about $25,630. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the animal science program here. Early-career animal science graduates make about $36,235. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Tech University earned the #11 position for value in animal science this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,369 to complete the animal science program here. Early-career animal science graduates make about $34,933. Set against $21,369 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
West Texas A And M University earned the #12 position for value in animal science this year. Located in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,101 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,996 for out-of-state students. Animal Science graduates carry a median of $22,333 in student loans. Animal Science graduates of West Texas A And M University earn a median of $43,515 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Tarleton State University earned the #13 position for value in animal science this year. Tarleton State University is a large public school located in the town of Stephenville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,302, compared with $18,142 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,638 to complete the animal science program here. Soon after graduation, animal science degree recipients from Tarleton State University generally make around $30,695. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #14 spot for animal science value this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Students borrow a median of $18,906 to complete the animal science program here. Early-career animal science graduates make about $57,477. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
