2026 Best Value Animal Science Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Animal Science associate’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 162 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor evaluated schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Animal Science Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Northeast Community College tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Animal Science associate's degree schools in the United States. Set in Norfolk, NE, Northeast Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,840, while out-of-state students pay about $5,130. Graduates carry a median of $11,937 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,634 ten years after entry. Set against $11,937 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Northeast Community College
Out of the 162 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Brigham Young University Idaho landed the #2 spot. Located in Rexburg, ID, Brigham Young University Idaho is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800. The median Animal Science program debt is $18,870. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $53,406. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%. Get the full Brigham Young University Idaho report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar earned it the #3 place in the United States. Set in Calmar, IA, Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,780 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,770. Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar Animal Science students take on a median of $14,348 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,306. Set against $14,348 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar report
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute came in at #4 on this year's best-value Animal Science ranking in the United States. Located in Wooster, OH, Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,584, while out-of-state students pay about $36,362. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete their Animal Science program here. Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute alumni report median earnings of $60,409 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute profile
Out of the 162 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill landed the #5 spot. Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill is a public school based in Cobleskill, NY. In-state tuition and fees average $8,768, while out-of-state students pay about $18,678. Graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,030 ten years after entry. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 84% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill report
University Of Connecticut ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Animal Science schools. This public school is set in Storrs, CT. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,044, while out-of-state students pay about $43,712. Graduates carry a median of $17,758 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $73,997. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted. Get the full University Of Connecticut report
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus placed #7 among the best-value Animal Science schools in the United States. Set in Durham, NH, University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,202, while out-of-state students pay about $39,852. Graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $66,479 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%. More on University Of New Hampshire Main Campus
Morrisville State College placed #8 among the best-value Animal Science schools in the United States. Set in Morrisville, NY, Morrisville State College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,825, while out-of-state students pay about $19,245. The median Animal Science program debt is $20,290. Median earnings reach $43,295 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $20,290 median debt. Morrisville State College admits about 92% of applicants. Get the full Morrisville State College report
Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Animal Science schools. Read the full report on Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville
Cornell University landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Cornell University report
Murray State University came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Murray State University report
University Of Rhode Island ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Animal Science schools. Read more about University Of Rhode Island
Ulster County Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Read more about Ulster County Community College
Southwestern Community College Creston landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Southwestern Community College Creston profile
Drexel University offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Read the full report on Drexel University
Dodge City Community College landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Dodge City Community College
Stephen F Austin State University landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Stephen F Austin State University report
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Animal Science schools. Read the full report on University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. More on North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Mesalands Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Read the full report on Mesalands Community College
University Of Georgia placed #23 among the best-value Animal Science schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Georgia report
The University Of Tennessee placed #24 among the best-value Animal Science schools in the United States. Get the full The University Of Tennessee report
Hinds Community College placed #25 among the best-value Animal Science schools in the United States. Read more about Hinds Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Animal Science Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Lincoln Memorial University offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. Get the full Lincoln Memorial University report
Mississippi State University offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. Get the full Mississippi State University report
Tarleton State University ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Animal Science schools. More on Tarleton State University
College Of The Ozarks came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. More on College Of The Ozarks
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Buena Vista University placed #31 among the best-value Animal Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Buena Vista University
Texas Tech University offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. See the full Texas Tech University profile
Sheridan College
Sheridan College offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. See the full Sheridan College profile
University Of Vermont offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. More on University Of Vermont
Utah State University landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Utah State University report
Mount Olive College landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Mount Olive College
Athens Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. Read more about Athens Technical College
Stautzenberger College Maumee came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Stautzenberger College Maumee
University Of Rio Grande offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. Read more about University Of Rio Grande
Northwest College offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Get the full Northwest College report
Montana State University ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Animal Science schools. Get the full Montana State University report
Central Wyoming College placed #42 among the best-value Animal Science schools in the United States. Get the full Central Wyoming College report
University Of Alaska Fairbanks placed #43 among the best-value Animal Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Alaska Fairbanks
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #44 among the best-value Animal Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Kansas State University came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Kansas State University
Miles Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #46 position. Read more about Miles Community College
Casper College
Casper College offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. Read the full report on Casper College
Colorado State University Fort Collins came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. See the full Colorado State University Fort Collins profile
Wayne Community College placed #49 among the best-value Animal Science schools in the United States. More on Wayne Community College
Louisiana Tech University offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. Read the full report on Louisiana Tech University
Related Animal Science Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Animal Science Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Animal Science Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Animal Science Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Animal Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Animal Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Animal Science Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Animal Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 162 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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