Animal Sciences
Quick Facts: Animal Sciences Training
Where it's offered
Animal Sciences programs are offered at 9 schools across 6 states. Most students attend a school within driving distance of home — use the state picker below to see programs near you.
Earnings expectations
Graduates earn approximately $28,855/year on average one year after completion, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Pay scales with experience, certifications, and regional cost-of-living.
Apprenticeship pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 4 registered apprenticeship pathways related to Animal Sciences — earn-while-you-learn alternatives to traditional schooling. See apprenticeship.gov for the federal registry.
Program quality benchmark
Across the 9 schools we analyze, the average TradeSchoolOutlook Score is 33/100. Higher-scoring programs combine strong graduate earnings, manageable cost, and strong job-market demand — see the leaderboard further down for the highest-rated options.
What Animal Sciences Graduates Do
Your career will likely begin with hands-on work as an agricultural technician. You’ll be on farms and in labs, collecting tissue samples, operating lab equipment like centrifuges and microscopes, and monitoring the health and feeding of livestock. It’s a role that blends fieldwork with precise, data-driven tasks.
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With experience, you can advance to a first-line supervisor, managing a team of farmhands, or progress into agricultural management. As a farmer or ranch manager, your focus shifts to the big picture: planning breeding schedules, managing supply chains for feed and medicine, and using farm management software to track herd productivity. The ultimate goal for many is running their own operation, where earnings can be substantial.
While roles like animal scientist are growing fastest, the greatest number of opportunities are in management. AI tools will increasingly help with analysis and planning, like optimizing feed rations or predicting health issues, but the core work of managing land, operating equipment, and providing hands-on animal care remains a fundamentally human endeavor.
Students considering Animal Sciences also weigh Plant Sciences, Agricultural Production, and Food Science & Technology — see each trade's earnings and school count side by side.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 4 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Animal Sciences. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Beekeeper
RAPIDS 886 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $68K – $87,980 – $115K | -1.3% |
|
Bison Herd Manager
RAPIDS 1136 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $48K – $59,330 – $77K | 2.5% |
|
Dairy Grazier
RAPIDS 2019HY |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Hybrid | $68K – $87,980 – $115K | -1.3% |
|
Farmer, General (Agric)
RAPIDS 177 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $68K – $87,980 – $115K | -1.3% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Find Animal Sciences Programs in Your State
Trade and community college programs are local decisions — most students pick a school within driving distance. Animal Sciences is offered at 9 schools across 6 states. Pick your state to see a local comparison (states with fewer programs link to the state hub).
Top Animal Sciences Programs Nationally
For context, here are the highest-scoring Animal Sciences programs in the country. Most students attend a school within 60 miles of home, so your state list above is usually more actionable — but these are the benchmarks others compete against.
9 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and career analysis.
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeast Community College Norfolk, NE |
55 50–58 |
| 2 | Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute Wooster, OH |
50 45–52 |
| 3 | Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH |
48 43–50 |
| 4 | Santa Fe College Gainesville, FL |
46 43–48 |
| 5 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus Durham, NH |
38 33–40 |
| 6 | Harcum College Bryn Mawr, PA |
36 31–38 |
| 7 | Stautzenberger College-Maumee Maumee, OH |
33 29–35 |
| 8 | Stautzenberger College-Brecksville Brecksville, OH |
33 29–35 |
| 9 | Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College Rockford, IL |
33 29–35 |
Highest Earning Animal Sciences Programs
Schools where Animal Sciences graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute | $39,743/yr | 50 |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | $39,743/yr | 48 |
| Northeast Community College | $35,931/yr | 55 |
| University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | $29,443/yr | 38 |
| Harcum College | $27,932/yr | 36 |
| Santa Fe College | $24,833/yr | 46 |
| Stautzenberger College-Maumee | $20,690/yr | 33 |
| Stautzenberger College-Brecksville | $20,690/yr | 33 |
| Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College | $20,690/yr | 33 |
Best ROI for Animal Sciences
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Animal Sciences.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Community College | 55.1x | $35,931/yr | 55 |
| Santa Fe College | 47.4x | $24,833/yr | 46 |
| Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute | 26.4x | $39,743/yr | 50 |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | 18.9x | $39,743/yr | 48 |
| Stautzenberger College-Maumee | 11.4x | $20,690/yr | 33 |
| Stautzenberger College-Brecksville | 11.4x | $20,690/yr | 33 |
| Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College | 11.4x | $20,690/yr | 33 |
| University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | 8.9x | $29,443/yr | 38 |
| Harcum College | 3.7x | $27,932/yr | 36 |
Related Majors
Explore similar fields of study.
Considering a 4-Year Degree?
Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Animal Sciences degree programs stack up on earnings and ROI.