Animal Science Schools and Programs in The United States

Animal Science Studies in The United States

Animal science is the study of the biology and management of domestic animals: livestock, poultry and companion animals. Students apply biology, biochemistry and other life sciences to animal breeding, genetics, nutrition, physiology, growth and behaviour. In the United States the subject is closely tied to agriculture and food production, and it is also a common first degree for students who plan to apply to veterinary school.

How the degree is organised

There is no national list of degree titles in the US: each accredited college or university designs its own programmes. The usual levels in animal science are:

• Associate degree (two years) at a community college, either as a vocational qualification or as the first half of a bachelor's degree
• Bachelor's degree (four years), usually a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in animal science or animal sciences
• Master's degree (typically two years), with more specialisation and research
• PhD (five to eight years), a research degree for a career in research or university teaching

US credits reflect the hours a class meets each week; they are not ECTS credits. The academic year usually runs from August to May. Animal science departments are usually part of a college of agriculture or agricultural sciences, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) every state has at least one land-grant college that offers agricultural science degrees. Practical work with animals is a large part of the degree. At The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), the animal science major offers several pathways (including preparation for veterinary or graduate school) and minors in equine science, livestock production and poultry and avian science; the university's sheep, beef, dairy, swine and poultry barns are close to the centre of campus. The Ohio State University offers its animal sciences degree with four specialisations, and Oregon State University teaches animal sciences together with rangeland sciences in one department.

Admission, English and visa

For a bachelor's degree you need to have finished secondary school and generally be at least 17. Each university reviews foreign records itself, sometimes through a credential evaluation agency, and US universities require an English language proficiency test before admission.

Before applying for a student visa you must be accepted by an institution certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which then issues the Form I-20 (or DS-2019 for exchange programmes). Degree students normally use the F visa; the M visa is for non-academic or vocational study. Check the school's accreditation too: according to EducationUSA, recognition of credits and degrees by other institutions and by employers is linked to it.

Costs

Tuition is set by each institution. State universities are generally larger and less expensive than private ones, and community colleges offer lower costs, easier admission and close ties to state universities.

Where to study animal science in the United States

This page lists 27 schools that teach animal science in the US, spread over many states and often in university towns such as University Park, West Lafayette and Corvallis. Examples include public universities such as The Ohio State University, Penn State, Purdue University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Florida, Oregon State University, Colorado State University, the University of California, Davis and the University of Minnesota; the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Oregon State University describe their animal science work as part of a land-grant mission. Departments can be large: Purdue's Department of Animal Sciences has about 700 undergraduate students, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences about 400. The list also includes community colleges such as Northeast Community College in Nebraska, Linn-Benton Community College in Oregon and the College of Southern Idaho. When comparing programmes, look at the species and specialisations on offer, access to farms and animal facilities, and whether the school has a veterinary college or graduate programme.

Careers

Animal scientists typically research livestock, with a focus on genetics, nutrition, reproduction, disease, growth and development, and work to produce meat, poultry, eggs and milk more efficiently. According to the BLS, animal scientists held about 3,400 jobs in 2025, with a median annual wage of $68,940 in May 2025, and their employment is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035. Scientist positions need at least a bachelor's degree, and employers may prefer a master's or doctoral degree. Many graduates work in related fields instead: the BLS mentions farming, ranching, agricultural inspection and farm credit institutions. Internships are highly recommended.

Animal science is also a route to veterinary medicine, but it is not a veterinary degree. Veterinarians must complete a four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) at an accredited college of veterinary medicine and hold a state licence. Applicants typically have a bachelor's degree, and admission is competitive.

Frequently asked questions

Is animal science the same as veterinary medicine?

No. Animal science is a bachelor's degree about the biology and management of animals. To practise as a veterinarian in the US you need a four-year DVM degree from an accredited veterinary college after your bachelor's degree, plus a state licence.

Can I study animal science at a community college?

Yes. Several community colleges on this page offer it. A two-year associate degree can lead directly to work or, through a transfer, to the last two years of a bachelor's degree at a university.

Does an animal science degree include work with animals?

Usually, yes. Penn State, for example, describes its instruction as hands on, and its sheep, beef, dairy, swine and poultry barns are close to the centre of campus.