Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science graduates earn $65,543 four years out. Related careers are growing at up to 23.2%, one of the stronger demand signals across all fields. Medical & Health Services Manager is among the highest-growth roles in the field.
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science is a focused area of study within Agriculture. Graduates typically earn around $65,543 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. The program is available at 41 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 700 students complete this program each year, most earning a bachelor's. Training is practical and skills-based, with a fast path from classroom to job site.
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science graduates earn $65,543 four years out, above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $46,023 and $83,774. Earnings typically jump significantly in the first few years. The one-year figure of $43,601 climbs to $65,543 by year four.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
Above the national median for college graduates.
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
There is a wide earnings spread across Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science graduates. Region and union membership drive the gap more than any other factor. Union jobs in high-cost metros pay significantly more than non-union positions elsewhere.
Strong ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $65,543 against an estimated $48,260 four-year net cost, most graduates break even against baseline wages in under two years.
Based on outcomes from 15 schools. Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Of the 700 students who complete Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science programs each year, the majority (60%) earn a bachelor's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science connects to 8 occupations in the job market. Veterinarian leads at $130,100/yr median. Expand any card to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
The 20 colleges below are ranked by how many Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science students they graduate each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
| # | College | Graduates | Acceptance | Net Price/yr | Earnings 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Murray State University Murray, KY · Public | 205 | 85.7% | $9,096 | $44,737 |
| 2 | Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH · Public | 71 | 60.6% | $17,339 | $60,409 |
| 3 | Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tifton, GA · Public | 70 | 75.7% | $6,842 | $34,996 |
| 4 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE · Public | 69 | 87.5% | $17,747 | $56,887 |
| 5 | Morehead State University Morehead, KY · Public | 46 | 77.2% | $9,793 | $43,197 |
| 6 | Northern Oklahoma College Tonkawa, OK · Public | 41 | Open | $5,625 | $37,566 |
| 7 | College of Micronesia-FSM Pohnpei, FM · Public | 30 | 87.1% | $6,789 | $24,651 |
| 8 | Arkansas State University-Newport Newport, AR · Public | 18 | Open | $8,444 | $41,524 |
| 9 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KY · Public | 17 | 92.9% | $18,851 | $59,025 |
| 10 | NorthWest Arkansas Community College Bentonville, AR · Public | 15 | Open | $7,196 | $43,505 |
| 11 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZ · Public | 13 | 86.1% | $16,674 | $59,979 |
| 12 | Northern Michigan University Marquette, MI · Public | 13 | 84% | $14,085 | $47,107 |
| 13 | Delta College University Center, MI · Public | 9 | Open | $4,547 | $37,781 |
| 14 | California State University-Fresno Fresno, CA · Public | 8 | 95.3% | $7,000 | $61,244 |
| 15 | Rider University Lawrenceville, NJ · Nonprofit | 7 | 78.6% | $24,792 | $62,208 |
| 16 | Clemson University Clemson, SC · Public | 6 | 38.3% | $22,253 | $71,513 |
| 17 | Holmes Community College Goodman, MS · Public | 6 | Open | $5,643 | $32,922 |
| 18 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL · Public | 5 | 24.2% | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 19 | University of California-Davis Davis, CA · Public | 5 | 41.8% | $14,741 | $80,838 |
| 20 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC · Public | 5 | 41.7% | $17,303 | $68,758 |
Ranked by Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →
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Strong earnings and positive career growth make Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science a solid option. The 4 strengths and 2 trade-offs below are data-sourced from College Scorecard, BLS, and IPEDS.
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