by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 2 U.S. colleges awarded 58 degrees and certificates in Animal Genetics. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 79% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Animal Genetics Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $43,852 one year after completing, rising to $76,616 after four years.
A degree in Animal Genetics explores Animal Genetics. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Genetics Of Multicellular Animal Life Forms From The Experimental, Comparative, And Clinical (Veterinary And Medical) Viewpoints. Includes Instruction In Molecular Genetics, Gene Expression, Gene Regulation, Genomics, Epigenetic Phenomena, Dna Recombination And Repair, Genetic Interactions At The Microbial And Higher Levels, And Molecular Evolution.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., animal genetics is a widely-pursued major, with 58 degrees awarded annually. 2 colleges award animal genetics degrees, an average of 29 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 57.
By level, the 58 awards include 46 bachelor’s degrees, 8 master’s degrees and 4 doctorates.
Women earned 78% of animal genetics degrees and certificates in the latest year (45 of 58). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (38) and Hispanic or Latino (5), and international students earned 5.
College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Animal Genetics Schools ranking, including 1 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks animal genetics schools within 1 state. In all, 2 colleges offer animal genetics programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Animal Genetics Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common animal genetics credential is the bachelor’s degree: 46 of the 58 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to animal genetics call most for Reading Comprehension, Writing and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Biology, English Language and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an animal genetics degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 46 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 8 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to animal genetics, at 33.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 20.0% |
| Master’s degree | 17.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 15.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.9% |
| Some college courses | 3.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
9 occupations are related to Animal Genetics, with an average median salary of $93,181; the strongest outlook belongs to Clinical Research Coordinators, at 10.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Clinical Project Manager, Research Coordinator, Clinical Trials Manager and Clinical Research Monitor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to animal genetics, at 542,888.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | 23,620 | 9.2% |
Animal Genetics graduates earn a median $43,852 one year after completing their program, $76,616 after four years and $73,410 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,852 |
| 4 years | $76,616 |
| 5 years | $73,410 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to animal genetics is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
| Geneticists | $48,526 |
Animal Genetics has 6 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 1,780 degrees a year; the largest are Genetics, General (799), Human/Medical Genetics (477) and Molecular Genetics (259). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Genetics, General | 799 |
| Human/Medical Genetics | 477 |
| Molecular Genetics | 259 |
| Genome Sciences/Genomics | 210 |
| Plant Genetics | 27 |
| Genetics, Other | 8 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
