undergradly.
Major · Agricultural, Animal, Plant & Veterinary Sciences

The science behind how animals are bred, raised, and managed at scale

Animal Sciences, General covers the biological principles of animal breeding, husbandry, and production — from livestock genetics and nutrition to the processing and distribution of animal products. About 6,800 degrees are awarded each year across 132 colleges, mostly at four-year land-grant and polytechnic institutions.

Schools offering
132
Annual completions
6,799
Typical degree level
Associate's + Bachelor's
Median earnings (5yr)
$48k

About this major

Animal Sciences, General is built around the biological and production science of agricultural animals — how they grow, reproduce, and are managed from breeding through processing and distribution. Coursework covers animal physiology, genetics, nutrition, and reproductive biology, alongside applied instruction in livestock production systems and food product handling. The CIP definition frames this as a program that integrates animal science principles with agricultural animal husbandry and food product processing — a combination that puts students in both classrooms and farm facilities throughout their training.

The major rewards students who are genuinely engaged with livestock biology and production agriculture. Lab and field components are standard: working with animals in supervised production settings is a regular part of the curriculum rather than an optional add-on. Programs range from those focused on specific species — beef cattle, swine, equine, poultry — to broader animal production approaches. Land-grant universities dominate the top-completions list: UC Davis (310 completions), Texas A&M (267), Texas Tech (245), and Oklahoma State (226) are among the largest programs, and most are embedded in colleges of agriculture with working farm facilities.

At the career level, the field branches several ways. Animal scientists earn a $79,120 median wage and show 5.8% projected growth — this is the most explicitly science-facing destination and the one most dependent on a bachelor's degree. Farmers, ranchers, and agricultural managers earn $87,980 but typically enter through operational experience rather than a degree requirement. Agricultural technicians earn $46,790 and typically need only an associate's. About 6,800 degrees are awarded annually across 132 colleges, making this a specialized but well-distributed field with strong ties to agriculture-intensive regions.

Section 3 · Careers

Where this major leads

Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.

Occupation Median wage Job growth Typical education
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers $88k -1.3% High school diploma or equivalent
First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers $59k +2.5% High school diploma or equivalent
Agricultural technicians $47k +4.3% Associate's degree
Farm and home management educators $58k -2.5% Master's degree
Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary $86k +4.1% Doctoral or professional degree
Animal scientists $79k +5.8% Bachelor's degree
Section 4 · Earnings

Earnings at a glance

Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.

Median 5-year earnings

$48k

Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings

Associate's

$41k

Bachelor's

$49k

Who this major is for

You may thrive here if you've spent real time around livestock or production agriculture and want the scientific framework to do it better or more systematically — if an interest in how animals grow, reproduce, and convert feed into product feels less like an academic subject and more like a question you're already trying to answer. You may also fit well here if you're drawn to a career as an animal scientist ($79,120 median wage, 5.8% projected growth) or a research-adjacent extension role, and want the bachelor's-level credential those paths typically require. Students who appreciate hands-on lab and farm work as part of their education — rather than despite it — tend to find the curriculum more engaging than those expecting a purely classroom-based program.

Think twice if your draw is more toward wildlife biology, conservation, or research on non-agricultural animals — Zoology/Animal Biology covers that territory more directly and doesn't carry the production-agriculture framing. Think twice also if you're primarily motivated by earnings: bachelor's completers in this major report a five-year median of about $48,966, and the associate's-to-bachelor's gap is only roughly $7,500 — a modest return compared to most other four-year science degrees. And if you're interested in the business of farming more than the science of it, Agribusiness or Agricultural Business and Management will align more closely with the actual skills those careers need.

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for Animal Sciences, General

Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.

College Location Assoc. Bach. Total
University of California-Davis Davis, CA 0 310 310
Texas A&M University-College Station College Station, TX 0 267 267
Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX 0 245 245
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Stillwater, OK 0 226 226
Iowa State University Ames, IA 0 222 222
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC 0 201 201
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA 0 189 189
Kansas State University Manhattan, KS 0 168 168
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, CA 0 159 159
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA 0 146 146
Section 7 · Explore sideways

Related majors to explore

Biology/Biological Sciences, General

83,027 completions/yr

Social Sciences, General

14,846 completions/yr

Biomedical Sciences, General

6,553 completions/yr

Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations

3,011 completions/yr

Agriculture, General

2,733 completions/yr

Physical Sciences, General

2,589 completions/yr

Agricultural Business and Management, General

1,697 completions/yr

Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations, General

809 completions/yr
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

What do Animal Sciences majors actually study day-to-day?
Coursework spans animal physiology, genetics, nutrition, and reproduction alongside livestock management and food production systems. Lab and farm-based components are common — students regularly work with live animals in supervised settings. Upper-division coursework tends to specialize into areas like beef cattle production, swine science, equine management, or animal biotechnology, depending on the program. The CIP definition emphasizes both the science of animal husbandry and the downstream processing and distribution of animal products.
What kinds of jobs do Animal Sciences graduates end up in?
The most science-aligned destination is animal scientist, with a median wage of $79,120 and 5.8% projected job growth — the only career in this major's set that typically requires a bachelor's degree. Farmers, ranchers, and agricultural managers earn a median of $87,980 but typically enter with just a high school diploma, meaning the degree is often supplemental to, not required for, the role. Agricultural technicians ($46,790, 4.3% growth) require only an associate's. First-line supervisors of farming and forestry workers earn $59,330 with 2.5% growth.
Is the earnings picture honest for this major?
Five-year median earnings for this major run about $48,350 across degree levels — $48,966 for bachelor's completers and $41,400 for associate's completers, a gap of roughly $7,500. That is a modest premium for four more years of education. The top-earning career in the data set, farmers and ranchers at $87,980, is primarily entered through ownership and operational experience rather than a degree. The most degree-dependent role, animal scientist at $79,120, represents a smaller share of graduates. Students should weigh those numbers honestly when comparing to other four-year programs.
Do I need a bachelor's, or is an associate's enough for Animal Sciences?
It depends on your target role. The animal scientist occupation — the most research- and science-facing destination — lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry credential. Agricultural technician roles require only an associate's and pay $46,790 median. The earnings gap between associate's and bachelor's completers in this major is about $7,500 at the five-year mark ($41,400 vs $48,966), which is narrower than most STEM-adjacent fields. If your goal is farm or ranch operation rather than laboratory or extension work, the degree level matters less than operational experience.
Is Animal Sciences the right fit, or should I look at a related major?
If you're drawn more to the biology and research side of animals than livestock production, Zoology/Animal Biology (CIP 26.0701, a direct cross-reference for this program) provides a stronger scientific foundation. Biology/Biological Sciences, General has over 83,000 completions annually and keeps more career doors open. If you're more interested in the business side of farming — land, operations, markets — Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations (3,011 completions, same concentration) or Agricultural Business and Management (1,697 completions) align more directly. Animal Sciences is the strongest fit if your goal is livestock production specifically.
What does the job market look like for Animal Sciences graduates?
Growth projections are mixed. Animal scientists show 5.8% projected growth — above average. Agricultural technicians show 4.3%. First-line supervisors of farming workers come in at 2.5%. By contrast, farmers, ranchers, and agricultural managers project a -1.3% decline, and farm and home management educators project -2.5%. Most of the declines reflect consolidation in the agricultural sector rather than a shortage of science-trained workers. The field is geographically concentrated — programs and jobs alike cluster in agricultural states — and career outcomes are closely tied to proximity to production agriculture.