by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Animal Sciences, General covers Animal Sciences, General. A General Program That Focuses On The Scientific Principles That Underlie The Breeding And Husbandry Of Agricultural Animals, And The Production, Processing, And Distribution Of Agricultural Animal Products. Includes Instruction In The Animal Sciences, Animal Husbandry And Production, And Agricultural And Food Products Processing. Continue reading for the key facts every animal sciences, general major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering animal sciences, general programs.
Nationwide, animal sciences, general is a widely-pursued major, with 7,535 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Animal Sciences, General Schools ranking analyzes these 124 schools to determine the best overall colleges for animal sciences, general students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of animal sciences, general programs later in this article.
Coursework for Animal Sciences, General build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations animal sciences, general graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a animal sciences, general program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a animal sciences, general major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several animal sciences, general 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 21 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 182 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 6,660 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 492 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 172 |
People currently working in careers related to animal sciences, general tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 47.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 14.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 13.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.7% |
| Some college courses | 0.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in animal sciences, general careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in animal sciences, general can lead to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to animal sciences, general.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to animal sciences, general.
| 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% |
| Precision Agriculture Technicians | 167,331 | 6.9% |
| Agricultural Technicians | 142,810 | 8.4% |
| Animal Scientists | 77,353 | -1.4% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | 33,611 | -0.6% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of animal sciences, general graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise 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 animal sciences, general graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers animal sciences, general 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 |
| Precision Agriculture Technicians | $56,932 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $55,950 |
| Agricultural Technicians | $44,022 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $36,803 |
With 124 different animal sciences, general programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased animal sciences, general school rankings to help you.
Those considering animal sciences, general, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Animal Sciences, Other | 249 |
| Poultry Science | 161 |
| Dairy Science | 154 |
| Animal Health | 137 |
| Livestock Management | 41 |
| Agricultural Animal Breeding | 13 |
| Animal Nutrition | 5 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
