by our College Data Analytics Team
[Animal Science](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/animal-science/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a animal science degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find where animal science graduates earn the most.
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Below are the schools whose animal science graduates go on to earn the most.
Mississippi State University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying animal science schools in the Southeast Region. Set in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a public institution. Early-career animal science graduates from Mississippi State University make a median of around $71,455 per year.
A rank of #2 makes Auburn University one of the highest-paying schools for animal science. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a public institution. After graduating, animal science degree recipients from Auburn University typically earn about $66,404 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in animal science will find them at University Of Georgia, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a public institution. Students who complete the animal science program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,453.
A rank of #4 makes Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College one of the highest-paying schools for animal science. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public institution. Early-career animal science graduates from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College make a median of around $62,173 per year.
University Of Kentucky produces some of the highest-paid graduates in animal science, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a public institution. After graduating, animal science degree recipients from University Of Kentucky typically earn about $65,391 annually.
University Of Arkansas came in at #6 for animal science graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a public institution. After graduating, animal science degree recipients from University Of Arkansas typically earn about $56,539 annually.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #7 for animal science graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. After graduating, animal science degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh typically earn about $52,790 annually.
North Carolina A And T State University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for animal science. Located in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a public institution. Early-career animal science graduates from North Carolina A And T State University make a median of around $48,691 per year.
West Virginia University placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for animal science. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a public institution. Early-career animal science graduates from West Virginia University make a median of around $54,660 per year.
Clemson University came in at #10 for animal science graduate earnings this year. Clemson University is a public school located in the suburb of Clemson. After graduating, animal science degree recipients from Clemson University typically earn about $55,310 annually.
University Of Florida ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying animal science schools. University Of Florida is a public school located in the city of Gainesville. Students who complete the animal science program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,450.
Arkansas State University Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying animal science schools. Set in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, animal science degree recipients from Arkansas State University Main Campus typically earn about $47,579 annually.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying animal science schools. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. Early-career animal science graduates from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University make a median of around $49,456 per year.
Middle Tennessee State University came in at #14 for animal science graduate earnings this year. Middle Tennessee State University is a public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. Early-career animal science graduates from Middle Tennessee State University make a median of around $40,607 per year.
The University Of Tennessee came in at #15 for animal science graduate earnings this year. The University Of Tennessee is a public school located in the city of Knoxville. Students who complete the animal science program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,966.
Tuskegee University came in at #16 for animal science graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Tuskegee, Tuskegee University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the animal science program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,961.
Louisiana Tech University came in at #17 for animal science graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Ruston, Louisiana Tech University is a public institution. Animal Science graduates of Louisiana Tech University earn a median of about $21,958 a year early in their careers.
Santa Fe College landed the #18 spot for animal science salaries this year. Santa Fe College is a public school located in the suburb of Gainesville. Animal Science graduates of Santa Fe College earn a median of about $24,833 a year early in their careers.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries animal science graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 18 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
