Best Schools for Zoology/Animal Biology

Zoology/Animal Biology graduates earn a median of $24,989 within two years of graduation, ranking #273 out of 292 tracked majors — 30% below the median across all fields. There are 46 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 2,263 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: San Francisco State University graduates earn $33,077 while California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates earn $16,345 — a $16,732 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

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.

46
Schools
$24,989
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#273
of 292 Majors
2,263
Graduates

Public vs Private: Zoology/Animal Biology

Public (37 schools)
$25,190
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (8 schools)
$23,863
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

Top Zoology/Animal Biology Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
S

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$33,077
2yr Earnings
1yr: $33,776
Grads: 24
Acceptance: 96.2%
#2
C

Carroll University

Waukesha, WI · Private

$31,839
2yr Earnings
1yr: $22,650
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 58.4%
#3
U

University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT · Public

$30,771
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,868
Grads: 55
Acceptance: 53.9%
#4
U

Utah State University

Logan, UT · Public

$30,771
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,362
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 93.6%
#5
U

University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus

Waterbury, CT · Public

$30,771
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,868
Grads: 55
Acceptance: 87.0%
#6
U

University of Connecticut-Avery Point

Groton, CT · Public

$30,771
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,868
Grads: 55
Acceptance: 86.5%
#7
U

University of Connecticut-Stamford

Stamford, CT · Public

$30,771
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,868
Grads: 55
Acceptance: 80.2%
#8
U

University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus

Hartford, CT · Public

$30,771
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,868
Grads: 55
Acceptance: 86.5%
#9
T

Texas A&M University-College Station

College Station, TX · Public

$29,685
2yr Earnings
1yr: $23,154
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 63.2%
#10
U

University of Wyoming

Laramie, WY · Public

$28,870
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,044
Grads: 53
Acceptance: 97.4%
#11
N

North Dakota State University-Main Campus

Fargo, ND · Public

$28,816
2yr Earnings
1yr: $21,840
Grads: 43
Acceptance: 95.8%
#12
U

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public

$28,381
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,864
Grads: 73
Acceptance: 43.4%
#13
O

Ohio University-Main Campus

Athens, OH · Public

$28,348
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,443
Grads: 130
Acceptance: 84.8%
#14
W

Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public

$26,850
2yr Earnings
1yr: $23,981
Grads: 64
Acceptance: 85.4%
#15
C

Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO · Public

$26,694
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,599
Grads: 148
Acceptance: 89.6%
#16
W

Weber State University

Ogden, UT ·

$26,585
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,201
Grads: 37
Acceptance: N/A
#17
O

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · Public

$26,022
2yr Earnings
1yr: $22,941
Grads: 108
Acceptance: 50.8%
#18
U

University of New England

Biddeford, ME · Private

$25,194
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,207
Grads: 32
Acceptance: 88.8%
#19
M

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public

$25,194
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,435
Grads: 148
Acceptance: 83.9%
#20
U

University of Michigan-Flint

Flint, MI · Public

$25,194
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 68.8%
#21
U

University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

Durham, NH · Public

$25,194
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,682
Grads: 32
Acceptance: 86.9%
#22
O

Oklahoma State University-Main Campus

Stillwater, OK · Public

$25,194
2yr Earnings
1yr: $23,264
Grads: 42
Acceptance: 70.9%
#23
U

Unity Environmental University

New Gloucester, ME · Private

$24,863
2yr Earnings
1yr: $21,178
Grads: 28
Acceptance: 81.8%
#24
N

Northern Michigan University

Marquette, MI · Public

$24,532
2yr Earnings
1yr: $17,593
Grads: 26
Acceptance: 70.0%
#25
S

State University of New York at Oswego

Oswego, NY · Public

$24,035
2yr Earnings
1yr: $22,580
Grads: 54
Acceptance: 80.4%
#26
M

Miami University-Oxford

Oxford, OH · Public

$24,035
2yr Earnings
1yr: $21,040
Grads: 57
Acceptance: 82.1%
#27
K

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS · Public

$23,649
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,468
Grads: 31
Acceptance: 79.4%
#28
C

Canisius University

Buffalo, NY · Private

$23,108
2yr Earnings
1yr: $21,220
Grads: 65
Acceptance: 81.8%
#29
U

University of Vermont

Burlington, VT · Public

$23,069
2yr Earnings
1yr: $21,951
Grads: 45
Acceptance: 60.0%
#30
D

Delaware Valley University

Doylestown, PA · Private

$22,970
2yr Earnings
1yr: $21,657
Grads: 27
Acceptance: 92.5%
#31
O

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR · Public

$22,964
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,267
Grads: 59
Acceptance: 78.8%
#32
O

Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Bend, OR · Public

$22,964
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,267
Grads: 59
Acceptance: 68.4%
#33
K

Kent State University at Kent

Kent, OH · Public

$22,880
2yr Earnings
1yr: $21,870
Grads: 65
Acceptance: 86.7%
#34
S

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Carbondale, IL · Public

$22,329
2yr Earnings
1yr: $21,258
Grads: 63
Acceptance: 90.4%
#35
B

Brigham Young University

Provo, UT · Private

$22,192
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,142
Grads: 23
Acceptance: 69.2%
#36
T

Texas State University

San Marcos, TX · Public

$22,094
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,146
Grads: 57
Acceptance: 89.5%
#37
U

University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

Norman, OK · Public

$21,508
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,331
Grads: 63
Acceptance: 76.5%
#38
T

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, TX · Public

$21,508
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,158
Grads: 26
Acceptance: 94.2%
#39
F

Frostburg State University

Frostburg, MD · Public

$21,234
2yr Earnings
1yr: $19,865
Grads: 26
Acceptance: 89.4%
#40
U

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public

$20,687
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,510
Grads: 26
Acceptance: 27.8%
#41
L

Lees-McRae College

Banner Elk, NC · Private

$20,596
2yr Earnings
1yr: $18,174
Grads: 33
Acceptance: 80.8%
#42
O

Ohio Wesleyan University

Delaware, OH · Private

$20,140
2yr Earnings
1yr: $15,328
Grads: 16
Acceptance: 50.7%
#43
U

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL · Public

$19,797
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,610
Grads: 34
Acceptance: 24.0%
#44
S

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Syracuse, NY · Public

$19,683
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 82.9%
#45
N

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh, NC · Public

$16,580
2yr Earnings
1yr: $20,595
Grads: 50
Acceptance: 39.9%
#46
C

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Arcata, CA · Public

$16,345
2yr Earnings
1yr: $23,650
Grads: 57
Acceptance: 98.8%

Majors with Similar Earnings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Zoology/Animal Biology?
San Francisco State University ranks #1 for Zoology/Animal Biology with median graduate earnings of $33,077 within two years. There are 46 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 $24,989 within two years of graduation. This is 30% below the median across all majors. Earnings range from $16,345 to $33,077 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 76.2%. 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 $23,863 in early earnings vs $25,190 at public schools. Public schools offer competitive earnings at typically lower cost, making them strong value options.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

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