Animal Sciences at University of Delaware

University of Delaware's Animal Sciences program reports impressive first-year earnings of $40,317—landing in the 95th percentile nationally and nearly $6,000 above the typical graduate in this field. The debt load of $24,572 is relatively modest, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61. This appears to be one of the stronger Animal Sciences programs in the country by the numbers.

However, there's an important caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, making it a small sample that may not be representative of typical outcomes. With only one Animal Sciences program in Delaware, there's no in-state comparison to validate whether these results are consistent or simply reflect a particularly successful cohort. The program could be genuinely excellent, or these numbers might fluctuate significantly year to year.

For families seriously considering this path, the fundamentals look solid—graduates aren't buried in debt, and starting salaries exceed what most Animal Sciences majors earn elsewhere. But given the small sample size, I'd want to see employment outcomes over multiple years before betting on these specific numbers. Contact the department directly to ask about job placement rates and where recent graduates are working. If the pattern holds across cohorts, this is a strong choice. If these numbers represent an outlier year, the reality might look closer to the national average of $34,000.