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Zoology & Veterinary Sciences

Colleges offering this major Rankings Trends

What you'll do in college

These majors focus on the biology, health, and production of animals—from companion pets to livestock. Coursework covers animal anatomy, physiology, nutrition, genetics, reproduction, and behavior, along with hands-on labs in animal handling, dairy science, or poultry science. Many programs are at land-grant universities with teaching farms and veterinary hospitals.

Students often specialize in pre-veterinary tracks, equine science, dairy, or laboratory animal science. Internships at veterinary clinics, research labs, zoos, and farms are common, and the pre-vet path is notoriously competitive—expect a heavy science load on top of the animal-specific classes.

What you'll do after college

Graduates work as veterinary technicians, animal nutritionists, livestock managers, zookeepers, and laboratory animal specialists. Many continue to veterinary school, graduate programs, or professional tracks in animal pharmaceutical and feed companies.

Pay varies widely—veterinarians earn well but carry heavy student debt, while farm and shelter roles tend to be lower paid. Demand is strong for veterinary professionals, especially in rural and mixed-animal practice, where shortages are severe.

Famous graduates

  • Temple Grandin — Animal welfare pioneer and autism advocate; B.A. in Psychology from Franklin Pierce College, M.S. in Animal Science from Arizona State
  • Eugenie Clark — "The Shark Lady" and pioneering marine biologist; B.A. in Zoology from Hunter College
  • Paul R. Ehrlich — Biologist and entomologist known for his population studies; B.A. in Zoology from the University of Pennsylvania

Selectivity vs. earnings

By acceptance rate

$51,526
1,444
100–92%
$54,430
2,921
92–84%
$53,523
2,925
84–74%
$54,461
2,819
74–55%
$57,176
2,911
55–40%
$56,528
1,467
40–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$47,857
1,135
400–1060
$53,994
2,299
1060–1160
$55,138
2,234
1160–1210
$55,113
2,237
1220–1290
$60,213
2,287
1290–1400
$57,030
1,141
1400–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings by acceptance rate and institution category

$42,075p10 $61,313p90 Art & Music STEM, Business & Military Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University 20–30% 10–20% 0–10% Savannah College of Art and Design · $64,086 Johnson & Wales University - Providence · $52,883 Maine Maritime Academy · $62,660 Florida Institute of Technology · $39,485 SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry · $44,598 Cal Poly - Pomona · $53,456 Michigan Technological University · $38,443 Franklin and Marshall College · $55,268 Bucknell University · $68,984 Florida Southern College · $41,600 Beacon College · $44,910 Rollins College · $53,200 Friends University · $44,391 Lees-McRae College · $39,502 Dordt University · $54,197 Berry College · $58,074 Stephens College · $46,066 Ohio Wesleyan University · $44,581 Carroll University · $46,356 Buena Vista University · $52,236 Eckerd College · $45,378 Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College · $44,593 Hastings College · $59,968 Juniata College · $57,381 Dakota Wesleyan University · $54,901 Rocky Mountain College · $46,906 Huntington University · $50,384 Mars Hill University · $47,199 Muskingum University · $46,649 Wilmington College · $46,249 Wilson College · $39,870 Eastern New Mexico University · $52,027 University of Montana Western · $34,765 University of Georgia · $60,484 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · $60,055 Alabama A&M University · $46,394 University of California, Santa Barbara · $49,975 North Carolina State University · $56,388 University of South Florida · $49,908 University of Wisconsin - Madison · $60,018 University of Tennessee, Knoxville · $58,346 University of Washington · $51,596 Clemson University · $60,159 Purdue University · $60,105 University of Maryland, College Park · $56,150 Cal State Long Beach · $43,850 University of California, Davis · $57,569 Auburn University · $73,974 Stony Brook University · $59,175 Ohio State University · $62,088 North Carolina A&T State University · $53,291 Texas A&M University - College Station · $60,410 Fort Valley State University · $43,113 Tarleton State University · $51,010 University of West Florida · $39,094 University of Connecticut · $57,542 Virginia Tech · $58,579 Pennsylvania State University · $70,422 New Mexico State University · $42,075 West Texas A&M University · $36,438 University of Massachusetts - Amherst · $70,028 Florida International University · $41,574 Frostburg State University · $51,274 University of North Carolina Wilmington · $47,739 Fresno State · $53,707 University of Hawaii at Hilo · $47,029 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities · $58,433 University of Alaska - Fairbanks · $57,763 Rutgers University - New Brunswick · $51,229 McNeese State University · $49,775 Texas Tech University · $60,215 Louisiana State University · $75,115 University of Delaware · $63,316 College of Charleston · $45,900 Louisiana Tech University · $59,144 University of California, Santa Cruz · $48,900 University of Vermont · $56,220 Oklahoma State University · $62,127 University of Arkansas · $72,205 Miami University - Ohio · $53,131 University of Michigan - Flint · $34,602 University of Rhode Island · $49,483 Bemidji State University · $53,022 University of Idaho · $52,367 University of Tennessee, Martin · $48,480 Indiana University · $57,245 University of Missouri · $61,230 University of Oklahoma - Norman · $71,630 Eastern Kentucky University · $46,872 Middle Tennessee State University · $46,074 University of New Hampshire · $51,147 Arkansas State University · $55,044 Oregon State University · $46,698 Coastal Carolina University · $49,480 Tennessee Technological University · $49,114 Angelo State University · $56,311 State University of New York at Oswego · $44,720 University of Nebraska, Lincoln · $58,182 San Jose State University · $61,313 East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania · $57,196 Kent State University at Kent · $50,596 University of North Dakota · $52,669 Valley City State University · $70,906 Savannah State University · $40,881 Western Michigan University · $35,166 University of Nevada, Reno · $59,681 Michigan State University · $54,650 University of Arizona · $43,963 Mississippi State University · $59,739 Morehead State University · $44,179 Murray State University · $50,171 South Dakota State University · $62,673 University of Maine · $53,872 West Virginia University · $64,214 Ohio University · $66,652 University of Alaska - Southeast · $54,783 Northern Michigan University · $46,041 Northwest Missouri State University · $51,559 University of Wisconsin - River Falls · $57,395 University of California, Riverside · $49,630 Washington State University · $50,425 University of Oregon · $52,734 University of Minnesota - Crookston · $53,232 University of Texas Rio Grande Valley · $51,934 Iowa State University · $62,769 University of Hawaii at Manoa · $54,091 University of Wisconsin - Platteville · $64,539 Colorado State University - Fort Collins · $50,243 Montclair State University · $49,049 University of Montana · $41,324 University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point · $49,421 Texas A&M University - Kingsville · $45,531 Chico State · $51,102 Texas State University · $48,362 North Dakota State University · $55,150 Pennsylvania State University - Berks · $77,111 Utah State University · $50,171 University of Southern Mississippi · $45,552 Missouri State University - Springfield · $49,491 Grand Valley State University · $49,747 Cal Poly - Humboldt · $42,656 University of Kentucky · $59,459 Sam Houston State University · $56,751 Western Washington University · $45,511 Appalachian State University · $49,518 Pennsylvania Western University · $47,898 Southern Illinois University - Carbondale · $49,622 Kansas State University · $60,421 Sul Ross State University · $41,538 University of Wyoming · $55,552 Troy University · $49,428 Montana State University · $50,666 Missouri Western State University · $46,372 Lake Superior State University · $49,649 New Mexico Highlands University · $44,403 Ohio State University - Lima · $49,580 Utah Valley University · $57,354 Weber State University · $52,560 Western New Mexico University · $54,270 Union University · $49,870 Liberty University · $48,116 Madonna University · $52,508 Charleston Southern University · $46,625 Asbury University · $32,779 Andrews University · $56,718 Olivet Nazarene University · $50,978 Harding University · $58,247 Faulkner University · $45,311 Sacred Heart University · $59,622 Kentucky Wesleyan College · $27,585 Brigham Young University · $48,710 Averett University · $54,559 Barry University · $46,592 William Woods University · $46,133 Abilene Christian University · $55,272 Centenary University · $46,007 Saint Francis University · $50,616 Waynesburg University · $48,798 Midway University · $35,406 Malone University · $44,833 The Master's University and Seminary · $39,111 Carson-Newman University · $45,648 Samford University · $57,534 Canisius University · $41,836 Saint Joseph's College of Maine · $52,980 Otterbein University · $50,205 University of Mount Olive · $48,686 Gannon University · $50,327 University of Findlay · $80,793 Emory & Henry University · $45,703 Northwest Nazarene University · $41,904 Lubbock Christian University · $54,188 Brigham Young University - Idaho · $46,588 Wisconsin Lutheran College · $56,786 Central Methodist University · $48,897 Grand View University · $50,964 University of Tampa · $51,271 Tuskegee University · $51,387 Jacksonville University · $60,547 University of New Haven · $49,861 Hampton University · $52,382 Lincoln Memorial University · $43,722 Drake University · $58,562 Lake Erie College · $48,679 Stetson University · $40,206 Alfred University · $47,545 Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus · $53,382 MCPHS University · $49,869 Hawaii Pacific University · $35,852 Mercy University · $52,258 Long Island University · $47,870 Roger Williams University · $51,719 Utica University · $49,610 University of New England · $51,448 Nova Southeastern University · $40,688 Delaware Valley University · $48,493 University of Florida · $51,343 University of California, San Diego · $51,509 Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo · $53,163 University of Southern California · $60,462 Boston University · $54,147 Northeastern University · $59,988 University of Miami · $48,319 Duke University · $69,350 Cornell University · $63,481 UCLA · $69,475 College of the Ozarks · $51,804 Art & Music: mean $58,485 STEM, Business & Military: mean $47,728 Liberal Arts: mean $49,535 Public University: mean $53,318 Religious University: mean $49,120 Private University: mean $49,268 20–30%: mean $52,005 10–20%: mean $55,729 0–10%: mean $63,528 All colleges: p10 $42,075 All colleges: p90 $61,313
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Zoology & Veterinary Sciences 236 14,487 23% / 77% 1% $53,675 95%
Animal Sciences 66 3,970 17% / 83% 1% $54,837 94%
Animal Science 21 2,342 17% / 83% 2% $56,525 93%
Zoology 40 1,396 24% / 76% 1% $50,838 97%
Marine Biology 44 1,217 31% / 69% 3% $49,649 95%
Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography 19 577 31% / 69% 3% $53,685 93%
Wildlife Biology 16 436 37% / 63% 0% $48,766 96%
Pre-Veterinary Studies 22 362 16% / 84% 0% $53,715 96%
Wildlife Management 17 330 44% / 56% 1% $49,728 99%
Equestrian/Equine Studies 20 234 3% / 97% 0% $45,978 92%
Animal Behavior and Ethology 9 225 14% / 86% 0% $51,572 97%
Veterinary Technology 12 191 5% / 95% 1% $47,695 95%
Animal and Veterinary Sciences 2 174 18% / 82% 1% $60,270 95%
Wildlife Science 3 158 35% / 65% 0% $48,602 100%
Animal Physiology 4 152 24% / 76% 1% $53,503 91%
Animal and Poultry Sciences 1 149 15% / 85% 0% $60,631 97%
Entomology 15 135 43% / 57% 2% $55,300 96%
Horse Husbandry/Equine Science and Management 6 94 9% / 91% 0% $50,388 95%
Animal Health 3 93 11% / 89% 0% $56,169 95%
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management 1 92 48% / 52% 0% $45,803 96%
Wildlife and Fisheries Science 2 83 47% / 53% 0% $50,484 99%
Poultry Science 6 79 44% / 56% 1% $69,969 96%
Wildlife Sciences 2 78 31% / 69% 0% $55,310 96%
Animal and Dairy Sciences 1 78 13% / 87% 1% $70,243 99%
Wildlife 1 77 48% / 52% 1% $43,346 93%
Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant 4 76 7% / 93% 0% $51,910
Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology 1 73 21% / 79% 5% $51,458 96%
Animal Biology 1 70 20% / 80% 6% $57,797
Animal Nutrition 1 70 16% / 84% 3% $80,311 97%
Veterinary and Animal Sciences 1 68 16% / 84% 1% $80,222 100%
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation 1 68 41% / 59% 0% $43,212 89%
Pre-Veterinary Medicine 1 67 12% / 88% 0% $48,480
Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture 1 67 39% / 61% 1% $55,818 95%
Wildlife Conservation 1 66 42% / 58% 0% $53,325 100%
Marine Science - Biology 1 60 32% / 68% 0% $51,271 97%
Dairy Science 9 53 25% / 75% 0% $60,305 96%
Fisheries and Wildlife 1 51 39% / 61% 0% $51,658 97%
Aquatic Biology/Limnology 6 50 60% / 40% 2% $52,701 96%
Aquaculture 5 47 57% / 43% 0% $51,747 93%
Aquatic Biology 2 47 19% / 81% 0% $46,518 98%
Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries 1 47 40% / 60% 0% $46,605 98%
Wildlife and Fisheries Biology 1 47 40% / 60% 0% $53,938 97%
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management 4 46 70% / 30% 0% $50,820 97%
Animal Genetics 1 45 13% / 87% 0% $70,569 96%
Fisheries Science and Management 1 44 68% / 32% 0% $56,985 99%
Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences 2 40 60% / 40% 0% $61,800 97%
Veterinary Medical Technology 1 39 0% / 100% 0% $42,772 100%
Fisheries Science 2 37 59% / 41% 0% $47,926 100%
Marine Science 1 35 34% / 66% 6% $54,147 88%
Animal and Veterinary Biosciences 1 34 12% / 88% 0% $67,407 96%
Wildlife Ecology 1 32 28% / 72% 0% $49,015 97%
Zoo & Wildlife Biology 1 31 35% / 65% 0% $48,116 94%
Forestry, Fisheries, and Wildlife 1 30 23% / 77% 0% $66,367 94%
Wildlife Resources 1 28 54% / 46% 0% $50,878 100%
Wildlife and Wildlands Science 1 28 43% / 57% 0% $47,295 78%
Marine Sciences 1 26 65% / 35% 4% $57,510 94%
Fisheries and Wildlife Science 1 24 33% / 67% 0% $48,089 90%
Wildlife and Fisheries 1 23 39% / 61% 0% $48,024
Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and Management 1 23 57% / 43% 4% $49,643 98%
Anthrozoology 1 20 40% / 60% 0% $44,910
Wildlife, Fish, and Wildlands Science and Management 1 18 11% / 89% 0% $57,763
Animal Health Technology 1 17 6% / 94% 0% $41,999 100%
Equine Science 3 15 7% / 93% 0% $45,843 95%
Fisheries 1 14 71% / 29% 0% $49,970 100%
Insect Biology 1 13 15% / 85% 0% $57,294
Fisheries Biology 1 12 92% / 8% 0% $37,035 100%
Aquatic and Fisheries Science 1 10 80% / 20% 0% $52,041 96%
Dairy and Food Animal Management 1 9 22% / 78% 0% $67,407 96%
Animal Studies 1 7 0% / 100% 0% $45,466
Animal Training 1 7 14% / 86% 0% $50,616
Pre-Veterinary Science 1 7 0% / 100% 0% $48,686
Equestrian Studies 1 6 0% / 100% 0% $52,826 100%
Pre-Veterinary 2 3 0% / 100% 0% $61,849 90%
Animal Husbandry 1 3 67% / 33% 0% $50,314
Equine Studies 1 3 0% / 100% 0% $51,915 95%
Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences 3 2 50% / 50% 0% $68,176 100%
Aquaculture and Fisheries Science 1 2 50% / 50% 0% $72,890
Veterinary Office Management 1 2 0% / 100% 0% $53,235
Equine Science and Management 2 1 0% / 100% 0% $53,844
Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology 1 1 100% / 0% 0% $77,111 100%
Zoology/Animal Biology 1 1 0% / 100% 0% $49,580 94%