by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 9 U.S. colleges awarded 238 degrees and certificates in Animal Physiology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 82% of graduates. College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Animal Physiology 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.
Studying Animal Physiology involves the study of Animal Physiology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Function, Morphology, Regulation, And Intercellular Communications And Dynamics Within Vertebrate And Invertebrate In Animal Species, With Comparative Applications To Homo Sapiens And Its Relatives And Antecedents. Includes Instruction In Reproduction, Growth, Lactation, Digestion, Performance, Behavioral Adaptation, Sensory Perception, Motor Action, Phylogenetics, Biotic And Abiotic Function, Membrane Biology, And Related Aspects Of Biochemistry And Biophysics.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., animal physiology draws strong interest, with 238 degrees awarded annually. 9 colleges award animal physiology degrees, an average of 26 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 117.
By level, the 238 awards include 195 bachelor’s degrees, 22 master’s degrees and 21 doctorates.
Women earned 71% of animal physiology degrees and certificates in the latest year (169 of 238). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (145) and Asian (37), and international students earned 9.
College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Animal Physiology Schools ranking, including 2 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks animal physiology schools within 1 state. In all, 9 colleges offer animal physiology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Animal Physiology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common animal physiology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 195 of the 238 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to animal physiology 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:
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How long an animal physiology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 195 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 22 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 21 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to animal physiology, at 35.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 35.5% |
| Master’s degree | 19.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 18.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 14.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.5% |
| Some college courses | 2.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
10 occupations are related to Animal Physiology, with an average median salary of $89,418; the strongest outlook belongs to Clinical Research Coordinators, at 10.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Research Coordinator, Clinical Project Manager, Clinical Trials Manager and Research Scientist.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to animal physiology, 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% |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | 159,217 | -1.2% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
Animal Physiology 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 animal physiology 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 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $55,554 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
Animal Physiology has 5 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 3,209 degrees a year; the largest are Zoology/Animal Biology (1,750), Wildlife Biology (650) and Entomology (476). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 1,750 |
| Wildlife Biology | 650 |
| Entomology | 476 |
| Animal Behavior and Ethology | 308 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology, Other | 25 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
