Animal Sciences at Tuskegee University

Tuskegee's Animal Sciences program shows a troubling initial picture—graduates earn just $24,211 in their first year, landing in the bottom 5% nationally and trailing Auburn graduates by over $10,000. Even within Alabama's limited market for this degree, Tuskegee ranks at the 25th percentile. The $27,000 debt load means graduates owe more than their entire first year's salary, creating immediate financial strain that few college graduates face.

However, the earnings trajectory tells a more complex story. By year four, median earnings jump 73% to nearly $42,000, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes this figure less reliable. This growth pattern suggests many graduates may be working in lower-paying animal care or research assistant roles initially before transitioning to higher-paying positions. Still, even with this improvement, the early earning years matter tremendously for loan repayment and financial stability.

For families considering this program, the first-year numbers are hard to ignore. If your child needs to start repaying loans immediately, that $24,000 salary will barely cover living expenses, let alone debt payments. Auburn offers a more stable financial foundation from day one. Unless your student has specific reasons to choose Tuskegee—strong scholarship offers that reduce debt, particular faculty connections, or the HBCU environment—the upfront financial hurdle makes this a risky investment compared to alternatives in the state.