by our College Data Analytics Team
[Animal Science](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/animal-science/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The schools below stand out for the salaries their animal science graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 82 schools on the early-career earnings of their animal science graduates.
What’s on this page:
The animal science program you select can have a big impact on your future earnings. That is why we developed our Highest Paid Animal Science Graduates ranking. We rank each school on the early-career earnings of its animal science graduates to surface the highest-paying programs.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Highest Paid Animal Science Graduates list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
Below are the schools whose animal science graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in animal science, no school beat Mississippi State University this year. Located in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a public institution. After graduating, animal science degree recipients from Mississippi State University typically earn about $71,455 annually.
A rank of #2 makes South Dakota State University one of the highest-paying schools for animal science. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a public institution. Animal Science graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of about $56,528 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in animal science will find them at University Of Wisconsin Madison, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. After graduating, animal science degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison typically earn about $57,024 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in animal science will find them at Michigan State University, which ranked #4. Michigan State University is a public school located in the city of East Lansing. Animal Science graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of about $59,436 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Massachusetts Amherst one of the highest-paying schools for animal science. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution. Students who complete the animal science program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,844.
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Purdue University Main Campus landed the #6 spot for animal science salaries this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Students who complete the animal science program here go on to a median salary of roughly $66,813.
California State University Fresno ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying animal science schools. California State University Fresno is a public school located in the city of Fresno. Animal Science graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of about $58,619 a year early in their careers.
Auburn University earned the #8 position for animal science graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a public institution. Early-career animal science graduates from Auburn University make a median of around $66,404 per year.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for animal science. Set in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a public institution. Students who complete the animal science program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,278.
University Of Connecticut ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying animal science schools. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a public institution. Animal Science graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of about $60,947 a year early in their careers.
University Of Maryland College Park placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for animal science. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a public institution. After graduating, animal science degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park typically earn about $56,654 annually.
Iowa State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying animal science schools. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a public institution. Students who complete the animal science program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,971.
North Dakota State University Main Campus came in at #13 for animal science graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career animal science graduates from North Dakota State University Main Campus make a median of around $55,921 per year.
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #14 position for animal science graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. Students who complete the animal science program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,442.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln landed the #15 spot for animal science salaries this year. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public school located in the city of Lincoln. Animal Science graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of about $54,812 a year early in their careers.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #16 for animal science graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. Early-career animal science graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo make a median of around $62,117 per year.
Oklahoma Panhandle State University landed the #17 spot for animal science salaries this year. Oklahoma Panhandle State University is a public school located in the rural area of Goodwell. Animal Science graduates of Oklahoma Panhandle State University earn a median of about $45,047 a year early in their careers.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona landed the #18 spot for animal science salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public institution. After graduating, animal science degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona typically earn about $56,089 annually.
Utah State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying animal science schools. Located in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a public institution. Early-career animal science graduates from Utah State University make a median of around $64,644 per year.
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for animal science. Set in the town of Wooster, Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute is a public institution. After graduating, animal science degree recipients from Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute typically earn about $51,110 annually.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #21 for animal science graduate earnings this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public school located in the city of Minneapolis. After graduating, animal science degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities typically earn about $59,386 annually.
Colorado State University Fort Collins placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for animal science. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public school located in the city of Fort Collins. Early-career animal science graduates from Colorado State University Fort Collins make a median of around $56,056 per year.
Kansas State University earned the #23 position for animal science graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a public institution. Students who complete the animal science program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,573.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying animal science schools. Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a public school located in the town of Stillwater. After graduating, animal science degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Main Campus typically earn about $55,473 annually.
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #25 spot for animal science salaries this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. After graduating, animal science degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia typically earn about $57,523 annually.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid animal science ranking:
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The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their animal science graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 82 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
