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Animal Sciences at Auburn University

Auburn, AL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $34,980/yr (3% vs median)

AI Risk High (42% exposed)

Job Market Large (99,000 openings/yr)

ROI 12.4x earnings multiple (4.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #12 of 81 Animal Sciences programs Top 25%

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	$634K	$620K	$562K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.6x	12.4x	11.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.7x	4.6x	4.1x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	42%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	48	47	44

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$50,144

Out-of-state: $135,776 (4.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$95,588

-91% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,500

6.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$66,404

90% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $34,980 track close to the $33,901 national median for Animal Sciences programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 12.4x 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 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $19,500 debt-to-$34,980 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #12 out of 81 programs, Auburn University's Animal Sciences program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $34,980 to $66,404 over five years (90% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Auburn University

With a 50% acceptance rate, Auburn University is moderately selective, with 25,732 students enrolled in Auburn, AL.

See all programs and financial aid at Auburn 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 Auburn University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

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 Auburn University's Animal Sciences program score?

This program scores 47/100 — 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 Auburn University rank so high for Animal Sciences?

The #12 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.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →