2026 Best Value Animal Behavior & Ethology Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Animal Behavior & Ethology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/zoology/animal-behavior-and-ethology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for animal behavior & ethology students.
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2026 Best Value Animal Behavior & Ethology Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in animal behavior & ethology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Animal Behavior & Ethology Schools
University Of California Davis earned the #1 spot for value among animal behavior & ethology schools in the United States. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,804 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,692. Animal Behavior & Ethology graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans. Soon after graduation, animal behavior & ethology degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $53,749. Set against $14,404 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Bloomington is a great value for students pursuing a degree in animal behavior & ethology, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the animal behavior & ethology program here. Animal Behavior & Ethology graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $27,096 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Canisius College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in animal behavior & ethology, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Buffalo, Canisius College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $34,200 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for animal behavior & ethology graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, animal behavior & ethology degree recipients from Canisius College generally make around $26,398. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Canisius College admits about 72% of applicants.
Carroll University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value animal behavior & ethology schools. Located in the city of Waukesha, Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,890. Typical student debt for animal behavior & ethology graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, animal behavior & ethology degree recipients from Carroll University generally make around $25,303. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Eckerd College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in animal behavior & ethology, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Saint Petersburg, Eckerd College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,884. Animal Behavior & Ethology graduates carry a median of $25,559 in student loans. Soon after graduation, animal behavior & ethology degree recipients from Eckerd College generally make around $28,012. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of New England landed the #6 spot for animal behavior & ethology value this year. University Of New England is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Biddeford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,210. Typical student debt for animal behavior & ethology graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, animal behavior & ethology degree recipients from University Of New England generally make around $28,509. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Bucknell University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value animal behavior & ethology schools. Located in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,812 in tuition and fees. Animal Behavior & Ethology graduates carry a median of $25,951 in student loans. Early-career animal behavior & ethology graduates make about $64,331. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 29%.
Other Animal Behavior & Ethology Degree Levels
Explore the best-value animal behavior & ethology schools at other degree levels:
View All Animal Behavior & Ethology Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
