undergradly.
Major · Biological Sciences

The animal-biology bachelor’s for wildlife, vet-school, and field research

Zoology/Animal Biology (CIP 26.0701) is the bachelor’s-track program focused on the molecular, cellular, anatomical, physiological, and ecological study of animals. About 1,726 students complete it across 55 institutions; bachelor’s grads earn $47,717 and associate’s grads $34,635, with major destinations including wildlife biology, vet school, and biological research.

Schools offering
55
Annual completions
1,726
Typical degree level
Associate's + Bachelor's
Median earnings (5yr)
$47k

About this major

Zoology/Animal Biology (CIP 26.0701) is the animal-focused track within biological sciences. The CIP definition centers on the scientific study of animal species and phyla — molecular and cell biology, microbiology, anatomy and physiology, ecology and behavior, evolutionary biology — applied to specific species. Coursework blends laboratory science with significant field components: ornithology, mammalogy, herpetology, marine invertebrate biology, animal behavior, and population ecology. Top producers like the University of Oklahoma (214 bachelor’s), Ohio University (144), Colorado State (128), and Oregon State (100) anchor the major at land-grant universities with strong field stations.

The major fits students who knew early that animals were the draw and want to study them at the level of biology, not animal husbandry. It rewards strong lab discipline, comfort with field work in difficult conditions, patience for the long credentialing arc most animal-biology careers require, and the kind of curiosity that makes hours of behavior observation feel productive. Day-to-day mixes wet lab work, field research, species-identification practice, and the writing-heavy work of grant proposals and scientific reports.

One grounded observation about trajectory: 1,726 students complete this CIP across just 55 institutions, with bachelor’s grads earning $47,717 and associate’s grads $34,635 — a $13,000 gap that reflects how thoroughly bachelor’s-coded the field is. The named occupation, Zoologists and wildlife biologists, pays $72,860 with 1.6% projected growth, but that figure represents mid-career federal positions; entry-level state and federal wildlife jobs typically start at $35,000-$50,000 as seasonal field-tech contracts. The realistic ramp involves a master’s degree, multiple field seasons, willingness to relocate rurally, and several years of stacking experience before permanent agency placement. For students aiming at vet school, the program also delivers prerequisites and animal-handling hours; the larger Animal Sciences major (CIP 01.0901, 6,799 completions) is a more livestock-focused pre-vet alternative.

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
Natural sciences managers $161k +3.7% Bachelor's degree
Biological technicians $52k +3.5% Bachelor's degree
Biological science teachers, postsecondary $83k +7.3% Doctoral or professional degree
Zoologists and wildlife biologists $73k +1.6% 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

$47k

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

Associate's

$35k

Bachelor's

$48k

Who this major is for

Good signs this major fits: you committed to animal biology young enough that the narrower curriculum feels right rather than restrictive; you’re comfortable with cold, wet, or remote field work and the seasonal-contract pattern that most wildlife careers begin with; you have a multi-year credential plan in mind (graduate school, vet school, or stacking field-tech positions toward an agency biologist role); you’re drawn to a specific destination like wildlife biology, marine biology, conservation work, or zoo and aquarium husbandry; and you can handle the relocation reality — most permanent wildlife-biology jobs are rural.

Reasons to pause: the named SOC for zoologists and wildlife biologists projects only 1.6% growth, and entry-level positions are highly competitive with seasonal contract work as the common starting point — a master’s plus multiple field seasons typically precedes permanent placement. The bachelor’s alone tracks more closely to the Biological technician SOC ($52,000) than to the headline $72,860 figure. If your interest is pre-medicine, pre-physician-assistant, or general biology flexibility, the larger 26.0101 Biology/Biological Sciences major (83,027 completions) is broader and more pre-health friendly. Verify your target school has the field stations and research opportunities to actually deliver the species-specific exposure the major promises.

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for Zoology/Animal Biology

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

College Location Assoc. Bach. Total
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Norman, OK 0 214 214
Ohio University-Main Campus Athens, OH 0 144 144
Colorado State University-Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO 0 128 128
Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 0 100 100
Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 0 98 98
Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH 0 85 85
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Stillwater, OK 0 71 71
University of California-Davis Davis, CA 0 64 64
Weber State University Ogden, UT 0 61 61
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC 0 58 58
Section 7 · Explore sideways

Related majors to explore

Biology/Biological Sciences, General

83,027 completions/yr

Neuroscience

9,625 completions/yr

Biochemistry

8,736 completions/yr

Biomedical Sciences, General

6,553 completions/yr

Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology

3,392 completions/yr

Nutrition Sciences

3,240 completions/yr

Microbiology, General

2,120 completions/yr

Human Biology

2,094 completions/yr
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

What do zoology majors actually study?
The CIP definition covers the biology of animal species and phyla — molecular and cell biology, microbiology, anatomy and physiology, ecology and behavior, and evolutionary biology — applied to specific species and phyla. Coursework typically blends laboratory science with significant field components: marine invertebrate biology, ornithology, mammalogy, herpetology, animal behavior, and population ecology. Programs at top producers like Oklahoma, Ohio, Colorado State, and Oregon State include extensive field stations and research opportunities.
What jobs do graduates land?
The packet names four occupations: Zoologists and wildlife biologists ($72,860, 1.6% growth, bachelor’s entry), Biological technicians ($52,000, 3.5% growth, bachelor’s entry), Natural sciences managers ($161,180, mid-career role), and Biological science postsecondary teachers ($83,460, doctoral entry). Realistic bachelor’s entry destinations include state and federal wildlife biology positions (USFWS, state fish-and-wildlife agencies), zoo and aquarium husbandry roles, environmental consulting, biological field-tech positions, and pre-vet or pre-graduate-school applicants.
Is this the right major for vet school?
It works, but it’s not strictly required. Vet schools accept any bachelor’s as long as you complete the prerequisites — typically two semesters of general biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, physics, and English, plus statistics and animal-experience hours. Zoology majors complete those prerequisites naturally and often pick up animal-handling experience through the program. Animal Sciences (CIP 01.0901, 6,799 completions) is a more pre-vet-popular alternative with stronger livestock-and-large-animal exposure.
How competitive are wildlife biology jobs?
The named SOC, Zoologists and wildlife biologists, projects only 1.6% growth and pays $72,860 — but that figure includes mid-career federal positions. Entry-level state and federal wildlife jobs are highly competitive, often paying $35,000-$50,000 with seasonal contract work as a common starting point. The path to a career biologist position typically requires a master’s degree, multiple seasonal field-tech contracts, and willingness to relocate to rural locations. Plan for several years of stacking field experience before landing permanent work.
How does this compare to general biology (CIP 26.0101)?
Biology/Biological Sciences, General (26.0101, 83,027 completions) is the largest and most flexible biology major — strong for pre-med, pre-pharmacy, pre-PA, and most graduate-school paths. Zoology (26.0701, 1,726 completions) is narrower and more animal-focused. Pick general biology if you want flexibility or pre-health; pick zoology if you’re committed to animal-focused work specifically and want concentrated coursework in animal behavior, ecology, and species-specific biology.
What’s a common next step after the bachelor’s?
Three common paths: graduate school (master’s or PhD in wildlife biology, ecology, conservation biology, or marine biology), vet school (with prerequisites complete), or seasonal field-tech work that ladders into permanent agency biologist positions. Some graduates pivot to environmental consulting, science education, science communication, or museum/zoo curatorial work. The bachelor’s is rarely the last credential for students serious about animal-biology careers.