by our College Data Analytics TeamIf you love watching the Discovery Channel and want to know everything you can about animals, Zoology may be the major for you!
This not necessarily the major to pursue if you want to be a zookeeper; instead you will get the opportunity to study the science and anatomy of animals. Zoology is serious science where you will study whole organisms as well as animal behavior, anatomy and internal makeup. Animals studied range from the sponge to the kangaroo and everything in between. Some of the topics you will encounter include natural habitats, conditions needed for animal survival, adaption and evolution.
Some courses you may take include: animal behavior, ecology, vertebrate zoology, ornithology, the study of mammals, herpetology, genetics, advanced math, chemistry, physics and evolutionary biology.
Concentrations in this major include: Entomology, Animal Physiology, Animal Behavior and Ethology, and Wildlife Biology.
Studying Zoology involves the study of Zoology/animal Biology. Read on to learn the important information every zoology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering zoology programs.
Across the country, zoology is a popular field of study, with 3,408 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Zoology Schools ranking analyzes these 101 schools to determine the best overall colleges for zoology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of zoology programs later in this article.
Programs in Zoology develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations zoology graduates commonly enter.
This exciting field allows you to take a look at the most intricate and delicate details of how animals function. As you learn about animals you will also be considering evolution and their environment. Your studies will allow you to see how animals interact with their own species as well as other animals and plants in their environment. You should have good communication skills in this major. Zoology will require you to do a lot of scientific writing with research to back up your ideas, as well as a lot of lab reports. This major will require you to attend lectures and participate in labs. Classes and group work will help you learn to work with others and get comfortable listening to opinions and new ideas.
A clear fascination with the natural world and animals it will help you to succeed. Students who are passionate about the work they are doing tend to do better. You will dissect all sorts of animals as well as collect invertebrates in the field. Hard work is necessary in this major. You need a clear understanding of the basic biology and chemistry as well as advanced math skills to continue on in the field.
The skill set emphasized by a zoology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a zoology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several zoology 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 | 6 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 50 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,783 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 327 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 242 |
People currently working in careers related to zoology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 40.1% |
| Master’s degree | 20.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 14.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 12.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.6% |
| Some college courses | 2.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in zoology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
After working hard during your undergraduate career, you will be prepared to enter numerous scientific fields. You could work in anything from medicine to environmental science. However, the most popular field is zoology or wildlife biologist.
Zoologists will be needed to study the impact of urbanization and population on wildlife habitats. However, competition may be high for positions in some areas. Students with work job experience may have an easier time finding a job.
Studying zoology opens doors to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to zoology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to zoology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Biological Technicians | 224,048 | 12.8% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | 159,217 | -1.2% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of zoology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $29,186 |
| 4 years | $39,528 |
| 5 years | $51,678 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for zoology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers zoology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Biological Technicians | $100,160 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $55,554 |
With 101 different zoology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased zoology school rankings to help you.
Those considering zoology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 1,913 |
| Wildlife Biology | 576 |
| Entomology | 452 |
| Animal Behavior and Ethology | 267 |
| Animal Physiology | 166 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology, Other | 34 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biology, General | 101,585 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 13,820 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 12,819 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 11,175 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 9,295 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 6,355 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 4,711 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | 4,612 |
| Biotechnology | 3,869 |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 3,638 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
