2026 Best Value Animal Health Schools
[Animal Health](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/animal-science/animal-health/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value animal health schools.
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Finding the Best Value Animal Health School for You
The animal health program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. To help, we created our Best Value Animal Health Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
See how we build our rankings
One Size Does Not Fit All
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Animal Health Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
2026 Best Value Animal Health Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the animal health degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Animal Health Schools
Leading the list is Murray State University, our #1 best value for animal health in the United States. Murray State University is a large public school located in the town of Murray. In-state tuition and fees average $9,900, compared with $19,836 for out-of-state students. Animal Health graduates carry a median of $23,420 in student loans. Soon after graduation, animal health degree recipients from Murray State University generally make around $48,423. That is a strong return on a $23,420 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Georgia earned it the #2 place for animal health. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Animal Health graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, animal health degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $31,769. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in animal health will find it at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #3. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,850 to complete the animal health program here. Soon after graduation, animal health degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $42,723. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a great value for students pursuing a degree in animal health, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,434, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. Students borrow a median of $20,981 to complete the animal health program here. Animal Health graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $39,064 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in animal health, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,221 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Animal Health graduates carry a median of $22,757 in student loans. Early-career animal health graduates make about $38,868. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
South Dakota State University earned the #6 position for value in animal health this year. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,162 to complete the animal health program here. Animal Health graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $51,260 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants.
Texas Tech University placed #7 among the best values for animal health. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,369 to complete the animal health program here. Animal Health graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $34,933 early in their careers. Set against $21,369 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Harcum College landed the #8 spot for animal health value this year. Located in the suburb of Bryn Mawr, Harcum College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,000. Animal Health graduates carry a median of $18,375 in student loans. Animal Health graduates of Harcum College earn a median of $27,932 early in their careers. Set against $18,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Animal Health. See all related rankings.
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
