by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 6 U.S. colleges awarded 47 degrees and certificates in Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 77% of graduates. College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $41,594 one year after completing, rising to $57,669 after four years.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., comparative and laboratory animal medicine draws strong interest, with 47 degrees awarded annually. 6 colleges award comparative and laboratory animal medicine degrees, an average of 8 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 22.
By level, the 47 awards include 36 master’s degrees and 11 doctorates.
Women earned 74% of comparative and laboratory animal medicine degrees and certificates in the latest year (35 of 47). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (26) and Hispanic or Latino (6), and international students earned 6.
College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine Schools ranking, including 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks comparative and laboratory animal medicine schools within 1 state. In all, 6 colleges offer comparative and laboratory animal medicine programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common comparative and laboratory animal medicine credential is the master’s degree: 36 of the 47 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to comparative and laboratory animal medicine call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Active Learning, and for knowledge of Biology, Medicine and Dentistry and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a comparative and laboratory animal medicine degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 36 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 11 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to comparative and laboratory animal medicine, at 62.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 62.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 14.0% |
| Master’s degree | 10.8% |
| First professional degree | 6.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 3.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine, with an average median salary of $49,930; the strongest outlook belongs to Veterinarians, at 13.9% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Veterinary Medicine Scientist (Vet Medicine Scientist), Professional Services Veterinarian (PSV), Animal Chiropractor and Veterinary Physiologist (Vet Physiologist).
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to comparative and laboratory animal medicine, at 3,199,646.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Veterinarians | 3,199,646 | 13.9% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine graduates earn a median $41,594 one year after completing their program, $57,669 after four years and $107,990 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $41,594 |
| 4 years | $57,669 |
| 5 years | $107,990 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to comparative and laboratory animal medicine, with a median salary of $53,196.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Veterinarians | $53,196 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine has 9 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 924 degrees a year; the largest are Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General (740), Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health (63) and Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology (46). Browse all Agriculture majors or the full list of college majors.
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