by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Animal Physiology involves the study of Animal Physiology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Function, Morphology, Regulation, And Intercellular Communications And Dynamics Within Vertebrate And Invertebrate In Animal Species, With Comparative Applications To Homo Sapiens And Its Relatives And Antecedents. Includes Instruction In Reproduction, Growth, Lactation, Digestion, Performance, Behavioral Adaptation, Sensory Perception, Motor Action, Phylogenetics, Biotic And Abiotic Function, Membrane Biology, And Related Aspects Of Biochemistry And Biophysics. Continue reading for the key facts every animal physiology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering animal physiology programs.
In the U.S., animal physiology draws strong interest, with 166 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Animal Physiology Schools ranking analyzes these 10 schools to determine the best overall colleges for animal physiology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of animal physiology programs later in this article.
Programs in Animal Physiology emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations animal physiology graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a animal physiology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a animal physiology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several animal physiology 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 | 114 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 14 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 38 |
People currently working in careers related to animal physiology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 35.5% |
| Master’s degree | 19.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 18.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 14.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.5% |
| Some college courses | 2.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in animal physiology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in animal physiology can lead to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to animal physiology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to animal physiology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| 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% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of animal physiology 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 physiology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers animal physiology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $55,554 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
With 10 different animal physiology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased animal physiology school rankings to help you.
Students interested in animal physiology, 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 Behavior and Ethology | 267 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology, Other | 34 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
