by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 47 U.S. colleges awarded 601 degrees and certificates in Equine Studies. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 54% of graduates. College Factual ranks 20 schools in its 2027 Best Equine Studies 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.
A major in Equine Studies covers Equestrian/equine Studies. A Program That Focuses On The Horse, Horsemanship, And Related Subjects And Prepares Individuals To Care For Horses And Horse Equipment; Ride And Drive Horses For Leisure, Sport, Show, And Professional Purposes; And Manage The Training Of Horses And Riders. Includes Instruction In Horse Breeding, Nutrition, Health, And Safety; History Of The Horse And Horsemanship; Horse Development And Training; Riding And Equestrian Technique; Stable, Paddock, And Track Management; And Equipment Maintenance And Repair.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, equine studies is a popular field of study, with 601 degrees awarded annually. 47 colleges award equine studies degrees, an average of 13 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 55.
By level, the 601 awards include 23 certificates, 131 associate degrees, 326 bachelor’s degrees and 121 master’s degrees.
Women earned 90% of equine studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (544 of 601). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (504) and Hispanic or Latino (45), and international students earned 6.
College Factual ranks 20 schools in its 2027 Best Equine Studies Schools ranking, including 7 for associate degrees and 11 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks equine studies schools within 6 states. In all, 47 colleges offer equine studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Equine Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common equine studies credential is the bachelor’s degree: 326 of the 601 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to equine studies call most for Instructing, Learning Strategies and Speaking, 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 equine studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 23 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 131 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 326 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 121 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to equine studies, 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 Equine Studies, 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 Agricultural Engineering Technology Instructor, Sericulture Teacher, Horticulture Manager and Farm Instructor.
The occupation related to equine studies 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% |
Equine Studies 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 equine studies, with a median salary of $66,903.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| Animal Trainers | $32,987 |
Equine Studies has 4 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 616 degrees a year; the largest are Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming (408), Animal Training (164) and Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services, Other (32). Browse all Agriculture majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming | 408 |
| Animal Training | 164 |
| Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services, Other | 32 |
| Taxidermy/Taxidermist | 12 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
