Animal Sciences at West Virginia University

Morgantown, WV · Public · Bachelor's Degree
41 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
42
Optimistic
41
Base Case
39
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,103/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk High (42% exposed)
Job Market Large (99,000 openings/yr)
ROI 14.3x earnings multiple (5.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #40 of 81 Animal Sciences programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Animal Sciences graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $559K $552K $509K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.5x 14.3x 13.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.1x 5.0x 4.7x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 42% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 42 41 39

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$38,592
Out-of-state: $109,440 (5.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,988
-35% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
7.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,660
76% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $31,103/yr, roughly in line with the $33,901 national median for Animal Sciences. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 14.3x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 42% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $19,500 debt-to-$31,103 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #40 out of 81 programs, West Virginia University's Animal Sciences offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $31,103 to $54,660 over five years (76% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About West Virginia University

West Virginia University accepts 86% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 17,705 students in Morgantown, WV.

See all programs and financial aid at West Virginia University →

Top Career Paths

Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers $87,980/yr
Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary $86,350/yr
Animal scientists $79,120/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Animal Sciences at Other Schools

Other Majors at West Virginia University

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For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does West Virginia University's Animal Sciences program score?
This program scores 41/100 — 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →