Best Schools for Zoology/Animal Biology

Zoology/Animal Biology graduates earn a median of $47,717 within four years of graduating, ranking #270 out of 283 tracked majors — 24% below the median across all fields. There are 50 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 3,003 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: University of Connecticut graduates earn $69,471 while Kent State University at Kent graduates earn $35,875 — a $33,596 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is modest: Zoology/Animal Biology graduates see an average 5% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

Schools

$47,717

Avg. 2yr Earnings

#270

of 283 Majors

3,003

Graduates

Public vs Private: Zoology/Animal Biology

Public (39 schools)

$47,980

avg. 2yr earnings

Private (11 schools)

$42,778

avg. 2yr earnings

Public schools produce comparable or higher early earnings for Zoology/Animal Biology, often at lower tuition — making them strong value options for this major.

Zoology/Animal Biology by State

Also by state: Kansas, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Wisconsin

Top Zoology/Animal Biology Schools by Graduate Earnings

University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT · Public

University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus

Waterbury, CT · Public

University of Connecticut-Avery Point

Groton, CT · Public

University of Connecticut-Stamford

Stamford, CT · Public

University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus

Hartford, CT · Public

Brigham Young University

Provo, UT · Private

$57,020

4yr Earnings

18 grads · small sample

2yr: $22,192 (25)

1yr: $31,142 (23)

Acceptance: 69.2%

University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

Norman, OK · Public

Ohio University-Main Campus

Athens, OH · Public

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, TX · Public

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public

$53,727

4yr Earnings

28 grads · small sample

North Dakota State University-Main Campus

Fargo, ND · Public

$50,701

4yr Earnings

26 grads · small sample

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public

Berry College

Mount Berry, GA · Private

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS · Public

Indiana University-Bloomington

Bloomington, IN · Public

$48,161

4yr Earnings

26 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 80.4%

#16

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · Public

University of Wyoming

Laramie, WY · Public

Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO · Public

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR · Public

Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Bend, OR · Public

Texas State University

San Marcos, TX · Public

Frostburg State University

Frostburg, MD · Public

$43,434

4yr Earnings

23 grads · small sample

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Carbondale, IL · Public

University of New England

Biddeford, ME · Private

Miami University-Oxford

Oxford, OH · Public

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Syracuse, NY · Public

Oklahoma State University-Main Campus

Stillwater, OK · Public

$42,474

4yr Earnings

30 grads · small sample

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL · Public

$41,961

4yr Earnings

25 grads · small sample

Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public

Texas A&M University-College Station

College Station, TX · Public

University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

Durham, NH · Public

$41,343

4yr Earnings

23 grads · small sample

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA · Private

$41,103

4yr Earnings

22 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 99.3%

#35

State University of New York at Oswego

Oswego, NY · Public

Delaware Valley University

Doylestown, PA · Private

$40,575

4yr Earnings

27 grads · small sample

Canisius University

Buffalo, NY · Private

Carroll University

Waukesha, WI · Private

$39,677

4yr Earnings

22 grads · small sample

Friends University

Wichita, KS · Private

$39,329

4yr Earnings

21 grads · small sample

1yr: $27,006 (16)

Acceptance: 55.6%

#40

Unity Environmental University

New Gloucester, ME · Private

$39,302

4yr Earnings

30 grads · small sample

Lees-McRae College

Banner Elk, NC · Private

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Arcata, CA · Public

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh, NC · Public

University of Vermont

Burlington, VT · Public

University of Maine

Orono, ME · Public

$36,078

4yr Earnings

24 grads · small sample

1yr: $26,416 (32)

Acceptance: 95.7%

#46

Kent State University at Kent

Kent, OH · Public

Utah State University

Logan, UT · Public

$30,771

2yr Earnings

20 grads · small sample

University of Michigan-Flint

Flint, MI · Public

Northern Michigan University

Marquette, MI · Public

$24,532

2yr Earnings

26 grads · small sample

Ohio Wesleyan University

Delaware, OH · Private

$20,140

2yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

1yr: $15,328 (16)

Grads: 16

Acceptance: 50.7%

Majors with Similar Earnings

Religion/Religious Studies $25,898 Natural Resources and Conservation, Other $25,851 Fine and Studio Arts $25,483 Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs $25,454 Film/Video and Photographic Arts $25,408 Leisure and Recreational Activities $25,301

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Zoology/Animal Biology?

University of Connecticut ranks #1 for Zoology/Animal Biology with median graduate earnings of $69,471 within four years of graduating. There are 50 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.

How much do Zoology/Animal Biology graduates earn?

Zoology/Animal Biology graduates earn an average of $47,717 within four years of graduating. This is 24% below the median across all majors. Earnings range from $35,875 to $69,471 depending on the school.

How hard is it to get into a top Zoology/Animal Biology program?

The average acceptance rate across Zoology/Animal Biology programs is 76.4%. The most selective program is at University of Florida with a 24.0% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.

Is a public or private school better for Zoology/Animal Biology?

Private Zoology/Animal Biology programs average $42,778 in early earnings vs $47,980 at public schools. Public schools offer competitive earnings at typically lower cost, making them strong value options.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

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