Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services at Centenary University

At $34,104 in first-year earnings, Centenary's agricultural and domestic animal services program outperforms 95% of similar programs nationwide—a remarkable achievement in a field where the national median sits below $32,000. The debt load of $23,250 is actually slightly below the national average, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68 that looks manageable for graduates entering a typically lower-paying field. While this is the only program of its kind in New Jersey (making state comparisons less meaningful), the fact that graduates are earning roughly 9% more than their peers at comparable programs across the country suggests Centenary has carved out a successful niche.

That said, $34,000 remains a modest starting salary in one of the nation's most expensive states. The bigger question for parents is whether their child can build a sustainable career trajectory in animal services from this foundation, and whether they're passionate enough about the field to accept these income realities. The program's strong relative performance shows Centenary is doing its job well, but it can't change the fundamental economics of working with animals.

If your child is committed to this career path and values hands-on animal work over higher earnings, this program delivers better-than-average preparation at a reasonable cost. Just ensure they understand the lifestyle tradeoffs that come with the field itself.