Animal Sciences at University of Connecticut

UConn's Animal Sciences program delivers exactly what the national data suggests: decent earnings with manageable debt. First-year graduates earn $37,712—matching the state median and ranking at the 75th percentile nationally. More importantly, the debt load of $23,515 translates to a 0.62 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe about 7.5 months of income. That's well below the concerning threshold of 1.0 and positions this program in the 26th percentile nationally for debt burden.

The 25% earnings growth to $47,096 by year four shows solid career progression, though these numbers won't impress anyone expecting six-figure salaries. Animal Sciences is a field driven by passion more than paychecks, and UConn's program performs respectably within those constraints. The Connecticut comparison is somewhat limited—all five state programs report identical figures, likely reflecting the same UConn system data.

For families considering this major, the math works if your child is committed to working with animals. The debt is manageable enough that graduates can pursue entry-level positions in veterinary clinics, research labs, or agricultural operations without financial panic. Just understand that "better than average" in this field still means modest earnings that require careful budgeting in the early years.