2026 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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 60 schools to find the best return on investment for zoology/animal biology students.
What’s on this page:
2026 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
University Of Florida earned the #1 spot for value among zoology/animal biology schools in the United States. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Zoology/animal Biology graduates carry a median of $20,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, zoology/animal biology degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $49,839. Set against $20,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Students looking for strong value in zoology/animal biology will find it at University Of Wyoming, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,768, while out-of-state students pay about $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wyoming admits about 97% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Davis earned it the #3 place for zoology/animal biology. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. Zoology/animal Biology graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $53,749 early in their careers. Set against $14,404 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Students looking for strong value in zoology/animal biology will find it at North Carolina State University At Raleigh, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Typical student debt for zoology/animal biology graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, zoology/animal biology degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $42,329. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Students looking for strong value in zoology/animal biology will find it at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,334. Typical student debt for zoology/animal biology graduates is $21,717. Zoology/animal Biology graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $44,661 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,717 median debt. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
Colorado State University Fort Collins earned the #6 position for value in zoology/animal biology this year. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,373, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Zoology/animal Biology graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, zoology/animal biology degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins generally make around $51,693. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colorado State University Fort Collins admits about 88% of applicants.
Other Zoology/Animal Biology Degree Levels
Explore the best-value zoology/animal biology schools at other degree levels:
View All Zoology/Animal Biology Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 60 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.