by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 65 U.S. colleges awarded 1,217 degrees and certificates in Animal Services. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 35% of graduates. College Factual ranks 32 schools in its 2027 Best Animal Services Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $25,658 one year after completing, rising to $34,216 after four years.
If you are an animal lover, a major in Animal Services might be perfect for you.
Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services is a rapidly growing field that allows you to work with and train different types of animals. Since there are many career possibilities within this major, a school will require you to choose an area of concentration. There are a variety of specialties including dog/pet/animal grooming, animal training, equestrian/equine studies, or taxidermy.
A degree in Animal Services explores Agricultural And Domestic Animal Services.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, animal services is a widely-pursued major, with 1,217 degrees awarded annually. 65 colleges award animal services degrees, an average of 19 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 96.
By level, the 1,217 awards include 252 certificates, 161 associate degrees, 375 bachelor’s degrees and 429 master’s degrees.
Women earned 86% of animal services degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,051 of 1,217). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (697) and Hispanic or Latino (414), and international students earned 10.
College Factual ranks 32 schools in its 2027 Best Animal Services Schools ranking, including 9 for associate degrees and 12 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks animal services schools within 8 states. In all, 65 colleges offer animal services programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Animal Services Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common animal services credential is the master’s degree: 429 of the 1,217 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to animal services call most for Instructing, Speaking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Education and Training, Customer and Personal Service and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Problem Sensitivity.
The field of Animal Services includes more than just training animals; also included within this is grooming, husbandry, monitoring, exercising, and examining for illness. Since this is a broad major, there are many different careers available to graduates. However, patience and a love for animals are two important traits that cover all concentrations. You must also be detail oriented and have strong problem solving skills. Sometimes training animals can be difficult, so as a trainer, you must have the necessary skills to assess which methods will be most successful on certain animals.
While studying Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services, you will take classes in animal anatomy, physiology, nutrition, and biology. You will become acquainted with everything there is to know about the animals you are working with so you can properly care for and train them.
Many jobs in training animals require experience. You will start out with basic jobs until you work your way up to positions with responsibility. To gain the necessary experience, begin by volunteering at an animal shelter or with someone who works closely with animals. Nearly all employers require candidates to have previous experience with animals.
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How long an animal services degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 252 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 161 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 375 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 429 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to animal services, at 21.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 21.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 20.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 15.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 9.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 8.1% |
| Master’s degree | 7.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 6.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.9% |
| Some college courses | 5.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Animal Services, with an average median salary of $52,155; the strongest outlook belongs to Animal Trainers, at 12.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Instructor, Assistant Professor, Professor and Faculty Member.
Some possible careers within this field include animal trainers, non-farm animal caretakers, groomers, and taxidermists. You may also decide to go into zoology or become an animal keeper.
The occupation related to animal services with the most projected jobs is Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, at 297,433.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
| Animal Trainers | 205,161 | 12.7% |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 202,912 | 0.6% |
| Animal Caretakers | 138,286 | 11.7% |
Animal Services graduates earn a median $25,658 one year after completing their program, $34,216 after four years and $34,298 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $25,658 |
| 4 years | $34,216 |
| 5 years | $34,298 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to animal services is Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary, with a median salary of $86,398.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $86,398 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| Animal Trainers | $32,987 |
| Animal Caretakers | $22,332 |
Animal Services includes 5 concentrations that together award 1,217 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Equestrian/Equine Studies (601), Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming (408) and Animal Training (164). It has 18 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 52,916 degrees a year; the largest are Agricultural Business and Management (8,920), Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians (8,916) and Animal Sciences (8,777). Browse all Agriculture majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Equestrian/Equine Studies | 601 |
| Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming | 408 |
| Animal Training | 164 |
| Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services, Other | 32 |
| Taxidermy/Taxidermist | 12 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Business and Management | 8,920 |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | 8,916 |
| Animal Sciences | 8,777 |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | 4,242 |
| Veterinary Medicine | 3,882 |
| Agricultural Production Operations | 3,822 |
| Plant Sciences | 3,510 |
| Agriculture, General | 3,002 |
| Food Science and Technology | 2,250 |
| Agricultural Mechanization | 1,491 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
