by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 5 U.S. colleges awarded 164 degrees and certificates in Animal Training. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 70% of graduates. College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Animal Training 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.
Studying Animal Training covers Animal Training. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach And Exercise Animals For Leisure, Sport, Show, And Professional Purposes. Includes Instruction In Animal Psychology, Health, And Safety; Human-Animal Interaction; Learning And Behavior Styles Associated With Different Breeds And Species; And The Technical And Pedagogical Aspects Of Training Animals For Such Specific Functions As Obedient Household Pets, Performing Show Animals, Animal Athletes, Caregiving (E.g., Seeing-Eye Dogs), Search And Rescue, And Police/security Work.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, animal training is a popular field of study, with 164 degrees awarded annually. 5 colleges award animal training degrees, an average of 33 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 96.
By level, the 164 awards include 49 bachelor’s degrees and 115 master’s degrees.
Women earned 90% of animal training degrees and certificates in the latest year (148 of 164). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (109) and Hispanic or Latino (19), and international students earned 1.
College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Animal Training Schools ranking, including 1 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks animal training schools within 1 state. In all, 5 colleges offer animal training programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Animal Training Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common animal training credential is the master’s degree: 115 of the 164 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to animal training call most for Instructing, Speaking and Learning Strategies, and for knowledge of Education and Training, Customer and Personal Service and Biology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an animal training degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 49 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 115 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to animal training, at 33.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 33.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 17.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 16.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 8.8% |
| Master’s degree | 8.6% |
| Some college courses | 6.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 1.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Animal Training, with an average median salary of $49,945; the strongest outlook belongs to Animal Trainers, at 12.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Pomology Teacher, Assistant Professor, Horticulture Manager and Aquaculture Professor.
The occupation related to animal training 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% |
Animal Training 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 same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to animal training, with a median salary of $66,903.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| Animal Trainers | $32,987 |
Animal Training has 4 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 1,053 degrees a year; the largest are Equestrian/Equine Studies (601), Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming (408) and Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services, Other (32). Browse all Agriculture majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Equestrian/Equine Studies | 601 |
| Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming | 408 |
| Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services, Other | 32 |
| Taxidermy/Taxidermist | 12 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
