2027 Best Value Zoology/Animal Biology Master’s Degree Schools

[Zoology/Animal Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/zoology/zoology-animal-biology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong zoology/animal biology education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for zoology/animal biology students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Zoology/Animal Biology Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the zoology/animal biology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Zoology/Animal Biology Schools
For return on investment in zoology/animal biology, no school beat University Of Florida this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,625 to complete the zoology/animal biology program here. Soon after graduation, zoology/animal biology degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $49,839. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
University Of California Davis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in zoology/animal biology, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,804, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Students borrow a median of $14,404 to complete the zoology/animal biology program here. Early-career zoology/animal biology graduates make about $53,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Wyoming one of the best values for zoology/animal biology. Located in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,768 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,178. Typical student debt for zoology/animal biology graduates is $23,875. Zoology/animal Biology graduates of University Of Wyoming earn a median of $29,359 early in their careers. Set against $23,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Southern Illinois University Carbondale one of the best values for zoology/animal biology. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. Typical student debt for zoology/animal biology graduates is $21,717. Early-career zoology/animal biology graduates make about $44,661. Set against $21,717 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ohio State University Main Campus earned it the #5 place for zoology/animal biology. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for zoology/animal biology graduates is $24,800. Zoology/animal Biology graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $29,996 early in their careers. Set against $24,800 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #6 among the best values for zoology/animal biology. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Zoology/animal Biology graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, zoology/animal biology degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $42,329. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #7 among the best values for zoology/animal biology. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Typical student debt for zoology/animal biology graduates is $24,872. Soon after graduation, zoology/animal biology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $23,888. Set against $24,872 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus came in at #8 for value in zoology/animal biology this year. Set in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,110, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Zoology/animal Biology graduates carry a median of $21,750 in student loans. Early-career zoology/animal biology graduates make about $23,031. That is a strong return on a $21,750 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado State University Fort Collins earned the #9 position for value in zoology/animal biology this year. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. In-state tuition and fees average $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for zoology/animal biology graduates is $25,000. Early-career zoology/animal biology graduates make about $51,693. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Other Zoology/Animal Biology Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Zoology/Animal Biology rankings across degree levels:
View All Zoology/Animal Biology Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.