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Animal Sciences at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree
43 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
43
Optimistic
43
Base Case
39
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,111/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk High (42% exposed)
Job Market Large (99,000 openings/yr)
ROI 10.6x earnings multiple (4.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #26 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 $553K $547K $505K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.7x 10.6x 9.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.1x 4.0x 3.7x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 42% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 43 43 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)
$51,584
Out-of-state: $135,004 (4.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$81,328
-58% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,500
7.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,056
55% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $36,111/yr, edging above the $33,901 national average for Animal Sciences — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 10.6x 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 $21,500 debt-to-$36,111 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #26 out of 81 programs, Colorado State University-Fort Collins's Animal Sciences offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $36,111 to $56,056 over five years (55% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Colorado State University-Fort Collins has a 90% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 25,148 in Fort Collins, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at Colorado State University-Fort Collins →

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

Compare this program → View all 81 schools offering Animal Sciences →

Animal Sciences at Other Schools

University of Wisconsin-Platteville ($44,956) South Dakota State University ($44,844) University of Wisconsin-Madison ($44,354) Mississippi State University ($41,464) Michigan State University ($41,292) University of Delaware ($40,317) California State University-Fresno ($40,311) University of Maryland-College Park ($40,209)

Other Majors at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Computer and Information Sciences, General ($78,856) Construction Engineering Technologies ($78,423) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($78,038) Civil Engineering ($73,326) Information Science/Studies ($67,827) Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($66,109) Chemical Engineering ($62,468) Mechanical Engineering ($60,720)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Animal Sciences trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Colorado State University-Fort Collins's Animal Sciences program score?
This program scores 43/100 — 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 →