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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

$47,411
1,395
100–86%
$50,028
2,770
86–78%
$49,831
2,864
77–70%
$52,214
2,778
70–52%
$53,156
2,837
52–40%
$51,528
1,369
40–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$44,226
1,042
400–1080
$48,100
2,021
1080–1160
$53,135
2,192
1160–1240
$52,777
2,050
1240–1280
$51,743
2,065
1280–1400
$55,313
1,044
1400–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings vs. selectivity rank

$40,484p10 $57,375p90 Arts Work College Military Female-only Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University Public University 1–25 Private University 21–40 Private University 1–20 Savannah College of Art and Design · $42,158 Johnson & Wales University - Providence · $35,855 College of the Ozarks · $41,023 Maine Maritime Academy · $52,111 Stephens College · $40,859 Bucknell University · $58,683 Florida Southern College · $42,678 Rollins College · $48,743 Berry College · $47,979 Ohio Wesleyan University · $42,843 Friends University · $38,542 Lees-McRae College · $36,186 Dordt University · $49,508 Carroll University · $38,883 Buena Vista University · $48,653 Eckerd College · $39,053 Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College · $44,475 Hastings College · $39,981 Juniata College · $41,960 Dakota Wesleyan University · $50,850 Mitchell College · $41,212 Huntington University · $42,883 Mars Hill University · $43,104 Rocky Mountain College · $45,309 Muskingum University · $41,520 Wilmington College · $43,695 Wilson College · $42,280 Cal State Long Beach · $54,476 Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo · $62,117 Eastern New Mexico University · $43,191 University of Montana Western · $43,203 University of South Florida · $49,425 Alabama A&M University · $44,302 University of California, Santa Barbara · $50,799 University of Washington · $45,878 Cal Poly - Pomona · $55,861 Clemson University · $50,598 Florida International University · $47,869 North Carolina A&T State University · $48,691 University of North Carolina Wilmington · $42,738 University of California, Davis · $55,931 Stony Brook University · $52,375 University of Minnesota - Crookston · $47,626 San Jose State University · $60,324 Fort Valley State University · $47,008 University of West Florida · $39,430 University of Connecticut · $59,537 Pennsylvania State University · $58,403 New Mexico State University · $41,175 Tarleton State University · $45,647 Mississippi State University · $60,960 University of Massachusetts - Amherst · $78,548 Frostburg State University · $42,803 Arkansas State University · $47,579 Appalachian State University · $47,224 Fresno State · $58,619 SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry · $44,170 University of Alaska - Fairbanks · $47,548 University of Hawaii at Hilo · $37,193 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities · $61,445 Louisiana Tech University · $36,034 Oklahoma State University · $51,810 University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff · $42,738 McNeese State University · $46,079 Texas Tech University · $54,222 Texas State University · $47,894 Louisiana State University · $62,173 Northern Michigan University · $45,510 Missouri State University - Springfield · $49,372 Montclair State University · $51,311 Morehead State University · $41,187 Murray State University · $43,908 Northwest Missouri State University · $47,533 Ohio University · $54,995 Salem State University · $55,116 Southern Illinois University - Carbondale · $40,611 Texas A&M University - Kingsville · $53,772 Troy University · $47,009 University of Delaware · $64,619 University of Oklahoma - Norman · $64,096 University of Texas Rio Grande Valley · $44,629 College of Charleston · $46,285 University of California, Santa Cruz · $40,513 University of Vermont · $41,094 Miami University - Ohio · $49,706 University of Michigan - Flint · $33,891 University of West Alabama · $40,403 Bemidji State University · $50,016 Michigan Technological University · $38,000 Oregon State University · $46,273 University of Arkansas · $56,539 University of Idaho · $47,180 University of Tennessee, Martin · $45,639 Washington State University · $48,903 Indiana University · $47,198 University of Rhode Island · $46,566 University of Missouri · $57,375 Angelo State University · $50,319 Chico State · $56,684 Eastern Kentucky University · $44,672 Middle Tennessee State University · $41,268 University of New Hampshire · $46,096 University of Oregon · $49,730 Coastal Carolina University · $41,398 Tennessee Technological University · $46,140 Grand Valley State University · $46,245 State University of New York at Oswego · $40,758 University of Nebraska, Lincoln · $54,023 Western Washington University · $48,318 Valley City State University · $50,283 Cal Poly - Humboldt · $40,999 Colorado State University - Fort Collins · $50,465 East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania · $52,897 Kent State University at Kent · $37,701 University of North Dakota · $35,845 Michigan State University · $52,648 Savannah State University · $42,458 Western Michigan University · $34,577 Iowa State University · $55,971 South Dakota State University · $55,168 University of Alaska - Southeast · $49,998 University of Arizona · $55,426 University of Maine · $43,106 University of Nevada, Reno · $51,431 West Virginia University · $54,660 University of California, Riverside · $52,166 University of Wisconsin - River Falls · $51,398 University of Hawaii at Manoa · $41,158 University of Wisconsin - Platteville · $51,278 University of Kentucky · $57,801 University of Montana · $40,484 University of North Alabama · $42,340 University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point · $46,283 North Dakota State University · $47,662 Pennsylvania State University - Berks · $74,662 University of Southern Mississippi · $36,036 Utah State University · $62,776 Pennsylvania Western University · $45,298 Kansas State University · $51,111 Sul Ross State University · $40,603 University of Wyoming · $44,557 Sam Houston State University · $46,013 West Texas A&M University · $43,529 Montana State University · $42,414 Lake Superior State University · $51,390 Missouri Western State University · $45,415 New Mexico Highlands University · $45,987 Ohio State University - Lima · $51,141 Weber State University · $44,320 Western New Mexico University · $47,520 Brigham Young University · $51,337 Union University · $46,818 North Carolina Wesleyan University · $46,148 Liberty University · $40,281 Loyola University New Orleans · $42,292 Madonna University · $49,686 Charleston Southern University · $41,151 Asbury University · $29,763 Andrews University · $52,843 Olivet Nazarene University · $48,889 University of Mobile · $45,494 Sacred Heart University · $59,584 Kentucky Wesleyan College · $24,773 The Master's University and Seminary · $46,742 Averett University · $50,317 Barry University · $48,009 Siena Heights University · $46,553 William Woods University · $35,298 Abilene Christian University · $48,271 Centenary University · $43,103 Saint Francis University · $50,355 Waynesburg University · $45,360 Malone University · $41,192 Midway University · $32,554 Canisius University · $40,744 Saint Joseph's College of Maine · $51,307 Otterbein University · $41,818 University of Mount Olive · $46,037 Gannon University · $49,551 Samford University · $50,537 University of Findlay · $63,576 Emory & Henry University · $44,088 Northwest Nazarene University · $41,262 Lubbock Christian University · $49,278 Brigham Young University - Idaho · $48,375 Wisconsin Lutheran College · $46,634 Central Methodist University · $43,617 Grand View University · $47,574 Florida Institute of Technology · $41,273 Hampton University · $44,707 Tuskegee University · $47,961 Stetson University · $41,787 University of Tampa · $45,714 Beacon College · $49,793 Jacksonville University · $50,676 Lake Erie College · $45,584 Drake University · $53,770 Hawaii Pacific University · $47,552 Lincoln Memorial University · $39,627 Delaware Valley University · $46,747 Long Island University · $57,105 MCPHS University · $57,641 Mercy University · $54,661 Roger Williams University · $51,183 University of New England · $41,830 University of New Haven · $53,840 Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science · $49,249 Keystone College · $42,162 Utica University · $48,702 Nova Southeastern University · $44,381 University of Florida · $49,020 University of Georgia · $53,276 Purdue University · $57,689 University of Maryland, College Park · $56,939 UCLA · $50,528 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · $53,176 Rutgers University - New Brunswick · $49,723 University of Wisconsin - Madison · $48,582 Texas A&M University - College Station · $56,730 Auburn University · $61,848 University of Tennessee, Knoxville · $50,916 Virginia Tech · $48,122 University of California, San Diego · $55,528 Ohio State University · $51,520 North Carolina State University · $49,613 Boston University · $58,367 University of Miami · $37,392 Northeastern University · $67,607 Franklin and Marshall College · $51,548 Duke University · $59,262 Cornell University · $52,441 Arts: mean $39,007 Work College: mean $41,023 Military: mean $52,111 Female-only: mean $40,859 Liberal Arts: mean $44,046 Public University: mean $48,663 Religious University: mean $45,558 Private University: mean $47,998 Public University 1–25: mean $52,881 Private University 21–40: mean $53,729 Private University 1–20: mean $55,852 All colleges: p10 $40,484 All colleges: p90 $57,375
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Zoology & Veterinary Sciences 236 14,013 23% / 77% 1% $49,646 95%
Animal Sciences 64 3,765 16% / 84% 1% $50,824 95%
Animal Science 21 2,315 16% / 84% 1% $53,184 94%
Zoology 37 1,552 26% / 74% 1% $45,171 96%
Marine Biology 44 1,116 29% / 71% 3% $47,191 92%
Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography 20 538 35% / 65% 2% $48,705 93%
Wildlife Biology 17 404 40% / 60% 0% $43,356 94%
Pre-Veterinary Studies 18 351 13% / 87% 2% $51,966 97%
Wildlife Management 18 295 47% / 53% 1% $44,458 99%
Veterinary Technology 13 215 11% / 89% 0% $46,857 97%
Equestrian/Equine Studies 19 214 8% / 92% 0% $42,409 90%
Animal Behavior and Ethology 9 206 17% / 83% 0% $46,521 96%
Wildlife Science 3 158 40% / 60% 1% $45,988 88%
Animal and Veterinary Sciences 2 147 14% / 86% 1% $50,350 90%
Animal and Poultry Sciences 1 146 14% / 86% 1% $49,456 96%
Entomology 15 130 36% / 64% 0% $51,272 96%
Poultry Science 6 107 48% / 52% 3% $61,680 95%
Horse Husbandry/Equine Science and Management 6 94 5% / 95% 0% $49,853 98%
Animal and Dairy Sciences 1 92 15% / 85% 0% $71,455 94%
Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology 1 91 23% / 77% 4% $45,285 100%
Wildlife and Fisheries Science 2 89 62% / 38% 0% $48,419 98%
Wildlife 1 88 42% / 58% 0% $41,148 89%
Animal Physiology 3 86 23% / 77% 1% $59,244 91%
Dairy Science 9 84 24% / 76% 1% $53,385 97%
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation 1 84 32% / 68% 0% $39,946 94%
Animal Nutrition 1 80 16% / 84% 0% $69,396 98%
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management 1 78 47% / 53% 0% $43,392 98%
Veterinary and Animal Sciences 1 77 10% / 90% 1% $89,862 100%
Animal Health 2 73 3% / 97% 0% $52,793 92%
Wildlife Sciences 2 73 33% / 67% 0% $47,996 96%
Wildlife Conservation 1 71 38% / 62% 0% $45,136 96%
Animal Biology 1 64 25% / 75% 8% $56,032
Pre-Veterinary Medicine 1 61 11% / 89% 0% $45,639
Fisheries and Wildlife 1 59 42% / 58% 0% $44,778 93%
Marine Science - Biology 1 58 26% / 74% 5% $45,714 95%
Aquatic Biology 2 55 31% / 69% 2% $45,254 95%
Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture 1 53 43% / 57% 0% $50,619 97%
Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries 1 52 31% / 69% 2% $40,186 100%
Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant 4 47 11% / 89% 2% $50,497
Fisheries Science and Management 1 45 87% / 13% 0% $51,294 100%
Animal Genetics 1 42 7% / 93% 0% $45,452 90%
Aquaculture 5 41 46% / 54% 0% $48,369 94%
Fisheries and Wildlife Science 1 41 49% / 51% 2% $49,281 94%
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management 5 38 71% / 29% 5% $47,457 100%
Aquatic Biology/Limnology 5 37 59% / 41% 3% $49,504 96%
Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and Management 1 33 61% / 39% 0% $43,996 97%
Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences 2 31 45% / 55% 0% $54,189 98%
Wildlife and Fisheries Biology 1 31 29% / 71% 3% $37,794 96%
Fisheries Science 2 29 52% / 48% 0% $46,575 96%
Wildlife Ecology 1 28 46% / 54% 4% $36,657 100%
Wildlife and Fisheries 1 28 68% / 32% 0% $45,134
Wildlife Resources 1 25 52% / 48% 0% $46,473 96%
Forestry, Fisheries, and Wildlife 1 23 35% / 65% 0% $58,110 91%
Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences 3 22 14% / 86% 0% $67,242 100%
Veterinary Medical Technology 1 22 0% / 100% 0% $37,212 100%
Animal Health Technology 1 21 0% / 100% 0% $40,000 100%
Anthrozoology 1 19 37% / 63% 0% $49,793
Wildlife, Fish, and Wildlands Science and Management 1 19 32% / 68% 0% $47,548
Equine Science 3 17 6% / 94% 0% $43,110 95%
Fisheries Biology 1 16 62% / 38% 0% $46,874 95%
Wildlife and Wildlands Science 1 16 69% / 31% 0% $57,849 95%
Equestrian Studies 1 14 0% / 100% 0% $33,016 100%
Animal Training 1 13 31% / 69% 0% $50,355
Aquatic and Fisheries Science 1 13 54% / 46% 0% $43,430 96%
Insect Biology 1 13 54% / 46% 0% $51,554
Dairy and Food Animal Management 1 11 27% / 73% 0% $57,024 100%
Fisheries 1 11 82% / 18% 0% $56,857 100%
Marine Sciences 1 10 60% / 40% 0% $48,118 95%
Equine Science and Management 2 9 0% / 100% 0% $44,956
Aquaculture and Fisheries Science 1 6 100% / 0% 0% $59,828
Pre-Veterinary Science 1 6 0% / 100% 0% $46,055
Animal Husbandry 1 4 25% / 75% 0% $42,705
Animal Studies 1 4 0% / 100% 0% $42,352
Equine Studies 1 3 0% / 100% 0% $42,114 100%
Computer Science + Animal Sciences 1 2 0% / 0% 0% $56,716
Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology 1 1 0% / 100% 0% $74,662 100%
Zoology/Animal Biology 1 1 100% / 0% 0% $51,141