by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Animal Behavior & Ethology covers Animal Behavior And Ethology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Psychological And Neurological Bases Of Animal Sensation, Perception, Cognition, Behavior, And Behavioral Interactions Within And Outside The Species. Includes Instruction In Ethology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Neurobiology, Behavioral Evolution, Cognition And Sensory Perception, Motivators, Learning And Instinct, Hormonal Controls, Reproductive And Developmental Biology, Community Ecology, Functional Behavior, And Applications To Specific Behaviors And Patterns As Well As To Specific Phyla And Species. Read on to learn the key facts every animal behavior & ethology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering animal behavior & ethology programs.
In the U.S., animal behavior & ethology is a popular field of study, with 267 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Animal Behavior & Ethology Schools ranking analyzes these 12 schools to determine the best overall colleges for animal behavior & ethology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of animal behavior & ethology programs later in this article.
Studies in Animal Behavior & Ethology emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations animal behavior & ethology graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a animal behavior & ethology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a animal behavior & ethology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several animal behavior & ethology 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 240 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 18 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 9 |
People currently working in careers related to animal behavior & ethology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 52.6% |
| Master’s degree | 34.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 7.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.8% |
| Some college courses | 0.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.5% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in animal behavior & ethology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying animal behavior & ethology opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to animal behavior & ethology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to animal behavior & ethology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Technicians | 224,048 | 12.8% |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | 159,217 | -1.2% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of animal behavior & ethology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise 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 animal behavior & ethology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers animal behavior & ethology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Biological Technicians | $100,160 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $55,554 |
With 12 different animal behavior & ethology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased animal behavior & ethology school rankings to help you.
Those considering animal behavior & ethology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 1,913 |
| Wildlife Biology | 576 |
| Entomology | 452 |
| Animal Physiology | 166 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology, Other | 34 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
