by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 102 U.S. colleges awarded 3,447 degrees and certificates in Zoology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 81% of graduates. College Factual ranks 57 schools in its 2027 Best Zoology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $29,186 one year after completing, rising to $49,957 after four years.
If you love watching the Discovery Channel and want to know everything you can about animals, Zoology may be the major for you!
This not necessarily the major to pursue if you want to be a zookeeper; instead you will get the opportunity to study the science and anatomy of animals. Zoology is serious science where you will study whole organisms as well as animal behavior, anatomy and internal makeup. Animals studied range from the sponge to the kangaroo and everything in between. Some of the topics you will encounter include natural habitats, conditions needed for animal survival, adaption and evolution.
Some courses you may take include: animal behavior, ecology, vertebrate zoology, ornithology, the study of mammals, herpetology, genetics, advanced math, chemistry, physics and evolutionary biology.
Concentrations in this major include: Entomology, Animal Physiology, Animal Behavior and Ethology, and Wildlife Biology.
Studying Zoology involves the study of Zoology/animal Biology.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, zoology is a popular field of study, with 3,447 degrees awarded annually. 102 colleges award zoology degrees, an average of 34 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 315.
By level, the 3,447 awards include 8 certificates, 48 associate degrees, 2,801 bachelor’s degrees, 383 master’s degrees and 207 doctorates.
Women earned 72% of zoology degrees and certificates in the latest year (2,470 of 3,447). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,469) and Hispanic or Latino (397), and international students earned 107.
College Factual ranks 57 schools in its 2027 Best Zoology Schools ranking, including 2 for associate degrees, 53 for bachelor’s degrees, 12 for master’s degrees and 7 for doctorates. It also ranks zoology schools within 26 states. In all, 102 colleges offer zoology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Zoology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common zoology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 2,801 of the 3,447 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to zoology call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Writing, and for knowledge of Biology, English Language and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
This exciting field allows you to take a look at the most intricate and delicate details of how animals function. As you learn about animals you will also be considering evolution and their environment. Your studies will allow you to see how animals interact with their own species as well as other animals and plants in their environment. You should have good communication skills in this major. Zoology will require you to do a lot of scientific writing with research to back up your ideas, as well as a lot of lab reports. This major will require you to attend lectures and participate in labs. Classes and group work will help you learn to work with others and get comfortable listening to opinions and new ideas.
A clear fascination with the natural world and animals it will help you to succeed. Students who are passionate about the work they are doing tend to do better. You will dissect all sorts of animals as well as collect invertebrates in the field. Hard work is necessary in this major. You need a clear understanding of the basic biology and chemistry as well as advanced math skills to continue on in the field.
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How long a zoology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 8 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 48 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,801 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 383 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 207 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to zoology, at 40.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 40.1% |
| Master’s degree | 20.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 14.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 12.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.6% |
| Some college courses | 2.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
11 occupations are related to Zoology, with an average median salary of $90,395; the strongest outlook belongs to Biological Technicians, at 12.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Clinical Project Manager, Research Coordinator, Clinical Trials Manager and Oncology Clinical Research Coordinator.
After working hard during your undergraduate career, you will be prepared to enter numerous scientific fields. You could work in anything from medicine to environmental science. However, the most popular field is zoology or wildlife biologist.
Zoologists will be needed to study the impact of urbanization and population on wildlife habitats. However, competition may be high for positions in some areas. Students with work job experience may have an easier time finding a job.
The occupation related to zoology with the most projected jobs is Clinical Research Coordinators, at 542,888.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Biological Technicians | 224,048 | 12.8% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | 159,217 | -1.2% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
Zoology graduates earn a median $29,186 one year after completing their program, $49,957 after four years and $51,678 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $29,186 |
| 4 years | $49,957 |
| 5 years | $51,678 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to zoology 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 |
| Biological Technicians | $100,160 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $55,554 |
Zoology includes 6 concentrations that together award 3,447 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Zoology/Animal Biology (1,750), Wildlife Biology (650) and Entomology (476). It has 14 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 183,656 degrees a year; the largest are Biology, General (103,797), Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (14,729) and Neurobiology and Neurosciences (13,720). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 1,750 |
| Wildlife Biology | 650 |
| Entomology | 476 |
| Animal Behavior and Ethology | 308 |
| Animal Physiology | 238 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology, Other | 25 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biology, General | 103,797 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 14,729 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 13,720 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 12,732 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 9,697 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 6,673 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | 4,879 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 4,738 |
| Biotechnology | 4,423 |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 4,228 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
