Animal Sciences at Ohio State University-Main Campus

Ohio State's Animal Sciences program starts graduates at below-average salaries but shows the strongest earnings momentum you'll find in this field. First-year earnings of $33,642 trail both the national median ($34,073) and the state's top program at University of Findlay by about $1,000. However, the 25% earnings jump to $42,088 by year four suggests graduates are moving into better-paying roles—perhaps veterinary tech positions, pharmaceutical sales, or research roles—faster than typical animal science graduates.

The debt picture offers some comfort: at $23,301, it's below the national median and notably lower than Ohio's $24,650 average for this major. The 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than nine months of their starting salary, making the initial lean years more manageable. With a robust sample size, these patterns are reliable indicators of what your child can expect.

For families, this comes down to patience and career trajectory. If your child is committed to animal sciences and willing to work through modest starting pay, Ohio State appears to position graduates well for mid-career advancement. But if immediate earning power matters more—say, if you're taking on significant parent loans—this program's below-median state ranking (40th percentile) suggests looking closely at that $1,000 difference with Findlay and whether Ohio State's brand carries enough weight in your child's specific career path to justify the slower start.