Animal Sciences at University of Arizona

The University of Arizona's Animal Sciences program sits comfortably above the national median for earnings—at $36,000 first year versus $34,000 nationally—and graduates carry notably less debt than typical ($18,195 versus $22,148). While these numbers place graduates at the 63rd percentile nationally, there's a significant catch: only one school in Arizona reports data for this program, making the 60th state percentile less meaningful. The small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked) means these figures could shift considerably in either direction.

The debt-to-earnings picture is reasonable at 0.51, meaning graduates owe roughly half their first-year salary. More encouraging is the 23% earnings bump by year four, reaching $44,164—solid growth for an animal sciences degree. However, parents should understand this isn't a high-earning field overall. Even with above-average outcomes, graduates start below $36,000 annually.

For students genuinely passionate about working with animals, this program delivers competitive preparation without crushing debt. The manageable loan burden gives graduates breathing room to pursue lower-paying but meaningful work in veterinary clinics, ranches, or conservation—common career paths in this field. Just remember these numbers represent a very small group, so individual outcomes may vary more than usual.