Animal Sciencesat California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Graduates earn $37,349/yr in their first year — about 10.0% above the national Animal Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $544K; scenarios range from $503K to $550K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Cal Poly Pomona
Cal Poly Pomona’s “learn-by-doing” philosophy is central to your strong earning potential in this field. You won’t just be in a lecture hall; you’ll gain practical experience at the university's own livestock units and agricultural facilities, which is a major advantage with employers. Your location is also key: you're on the edge of the massive Southern California urban market while still connected to the state's powerful agricultural industry, creating diverse job opportunities from zoo management to food production. This program sets you up for management-track roles in agribusiness or for competitive entry into graduate veterinary programs. To maximize your prospects, actively pursue internships with major California producers like Foster Farms or Harris Ranch, or with local veterinary clinics, to build a professional network before you even graduate.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Cal Poly Pomona's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Animal Sciences
How Cal Poly Pomona stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Cal Poly Pomona
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Cal Poly Pomona, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Animal Sciences offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Animal Sciences trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Animal Sciences at Cal Poly Pomona
How does California State Polytechnic University-Pomona's Animal Sciences program score?
This program scores 50/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Animal Sciences graduates.
How vulnerable is Animal Sciences to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Animal Sciences careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 42% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.