Animal Sciencesat University of Maryland-College Park
Graduates earn $40,209/yr in their first year — about 19.0% above the national Animal Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $541K; scenarios range from $501K to $547K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Maryland-College Park
The strong outcomes for Maryland's Animal Sciences program are a direct result of its location and research focus. You're not just in a traditional agricultural state; you're on the doorstep of Washington, D.C. This provides a unique pipeline into federal agencies like the USDA, NIH, and FDA for careers in policy, food safety, and public health. The program’s rigorous science curriculum also prepares you for the region's booming biotech corridor and for competitive veterinary schools. While some graduates pursue traditional farm management, many leverage their degree into more lucrative research and government roles that are less common for this major.
To maximize this advantage, seek out internships with federal agencies or at the nearby Beltsville Agricultural Research Center; these connections are invaluable and set you apart from graduates in more rural programs.
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 University of Maryland-College Park'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 University of Maryland-College Park stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Maryland-College Park
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Maryland-College Park, 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 University of Maryland-College Park
How does University of Maryland-College Park's Animal Sciences program score?
This program scores 48/100 — on the lower end for Animal Sciences. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
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.
Why does University of Maryland-College Park rank so high for Animal Sciences?
The #9 ranking out of 81 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.