by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Agricultural Animal Breeding involves the study of Agricultural Animal Breeding. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Genetics And Genetic Engineering To The Improvement Of Agricultural Animal Health, The Development Of New Animal Breeds, And The Selective Improvement Of Agricultural Animal Populations. Includes Instruction In Genetics, Genetic Engineering, Population Genetics, Animal Health, Animal Husbandry, And Biotechnology. Continue reading for the essential details every agricultural animal breeding major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering agricultural animal breeding programs.
Nationwide, agricultural animal breeding draws strong interest, with 13 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Agricultural Animal Breeding Schools ranking analyzes these 2 schools to determine the best overall colleges for agricultural animal breeding students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of agricultural animal breeding programs later in this article.
Programs in Agricultural Animal Breeding emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations agricultural animal breeding graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a agricultural animal breeding program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a agricultural animal breeding major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several agricultural animal breeding degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 8 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 5 |
People currently working in careers related to agricultural animal breeding tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 57.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 15.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 12.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in agricultural animal breeding careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying agricultural animal breeding can lead to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to agricultural animal breeding.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to agricultural animal breeding.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Farm and Home Management Educators | 1,304,119 | 14.0% |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 231,384 | 14.7% |
| Animal Scientists | 77,353 | -1.4% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of agricultural animal breeding graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,873 |
| 4 years | $43,315 |
| 5 years | $54,045 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for agricultural animal breeding graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers agricultural animal breeding grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Animal Scientists | $93,823 |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | $84,680 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $55,950 |
With 2 different agricultural animal breeding programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased agricultural animal breeding school rankings to help you.
Students interested in agricultural animal breeding, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Animal Sciences, General | 7,535 |
| Animal Sciences, Other | 249 |
| Poultry Science | 161 |
| Dairy Science | 154 |
| Animal Health | 137 |
| Livestock Management | 41 |
| Animal Nutrition | 5 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
