Zoology/Animal Biology: earnings, debt, and careers
CIP 26.07. Official graduate outcomes from the U.S. Department of Education across 259 programs, and the careers this field is linked to.
Graduate earnings by credential level
| Credential | Programs | Graduates (recent year) | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Typical program median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate certificate | 6 | 10 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Associate's degree | 10 | 50 | $26,915 | $34,283 | $12,000 1 programs |
| Bachelor's degree | 118 | 2,783 | $33,118 | $44,055 | $23,274 54 programs |
| Master's degree | 66 | 304 | $50,721 | $60,772 | Data unavailable |
| Doctoral degree | 54 | 242 | $65,457 | $77,436 | Data unavailable |
| Graduate certificate | 5 | 19 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
National earnings are published by the Department of Education for each field and credential level Verified data. Typical program median debt is ConnectPrep's calculation: the median across programs of each program's median federal debt Calculated estimate. It covers federal loans only.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Field of Study Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Bachelor's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of New England ME · Private, nonprofit · 27 graduates measured | $39,570 | $42,941 | $27,000 |
| University of New Hampshire-Main Campus NH · Public · 34 graduates measured | $38,470 | $41,343 | $27,000 |
| Ohio University-Eastern Campus OH · Public · 193 graduates measured | $38,102 | $55,352 | $24,322 |
| Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus OH · Public · 193 graduates measured | $38,102 | $55,352 | $24,322 |
| Ohio University-Southern Campus OH · Public · 193 graduates measured | $38,102 | $55,352 | $24,322 |
| Ohio University-Lancaster Campus OH · Public · 193 graduates measured | $38,102 | $55,352 | $24,322 |
| Ohio University-Main Campus OH · Public · 193 graduates measured | $38,102 | $55,352 | $24,322 |
| Ohio University-Zanesville Campus OH · Public · 193 graduates measured | $38,102 | $55,352 | $24,322 |
| Weber State University UT · Public · 29 graduates measured | $38,061 | $49,480 | $17,997 |
| University of Maine ME · Public · 18 graduates measured | $37,675 | $36,078 | $27,000 |
| Carroll University WI · Private, nonprofit · 21 graduates measured | $35,803 | $39,677 | $27,000 |
| Colorado State University-Fort Collins CO · Public · 180 graduates measured | $35,578 | $44,226 | $22,272 |
| University of Connecticut CT · Public · 73 graduates measured | $35,530 | $69,471 | $20,500 |
| University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus CT · Public · 73 graduates measured | $35,530 | $69,471 | $20,500 |
| University of Connecticut-Avery Point CT · Public · 73 graduates measured | $35,530 | $69,471 | $20,500 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Master's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln NE · Public · 24 graduates measured | $75,157 | $76,344 | Data unavailable |
| University of Florida FL · Public · 30 graduates measured | $62,294 | $73,457 | Data unavailable |
| Canisius University NY · Private, nonprofit · 22 graduates measured | $49,202 | $59,671 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Doctoral degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Florida FL · Public · 16 graduates measured | $61,449 | $94,713 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Careers linked to Zoology/Animal Biology
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural sciences managers | $167,220 | +8.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Zoologists and wildlife biologists | $76,780 | +3.6% | Bachelor's degree |
| Biological scientists, all other | $98,920 | +4.7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Biological technicians | $57,510 | +7.4% | Bachelor's degree |
| Biological science teachers, postsecondary | $84,620 | +7.3% | Doctoral or professional degree |
Occupations mapped to this field in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. Occupation wages describe all workers, not recent graduates.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Detailed CIP codes in this field (6)
- 26.0701 Zoology/Animal Biology
- 26.0702 Entomology
- 26.0707 Animal Physiology
- 26.0708 Animal Behavior and Ethology
- 26.0709 Wildlife Biology
- 26.0799 Zoology/Animal Biology, Other