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Animal Sciences at New Mexico State University-Main Campus

Las Cruces, NM · Public · Bachelor's Degree
32 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
33
Optimistic
32
Base Case
30
Pessimistic
Earnings $28,475/yr (-16% vs median)
AI Risk High (42% exposed)
Job Market Large (99,000 openings/yr)
ROI 14.5x earnings multiple (4.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #69 of 81 Animal Sciences programs

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 $471K $473K $447K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.5x 14.5x 13.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.7x 4.7x 4.4x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 42% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 33 32 30

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$32,588
Out-of-state: $101,084 (4.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$26,988
17% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,489
7.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$41,175
45% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $28,475 place New Mexico State University-Main Campus below the $33,901 national median for Animal Sciences — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Animal Sciences programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Animal Sciences's typical career paths, with 42% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $18,489 represents roughly 8 months of the $28,475 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #69 of 81 Animal Sciences programs, New Mexico State University-Main Campus falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $28,475 to $41,175 over five years — a 45% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About New Mexico State University-Main Campus

New Mexico State University-Main Campus accepts 76% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 11,561 students in Las Cruces, NM. Pell Grant recipients make up 40% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at New Mexico State University-Main Campus →

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 New Mexico State University-Main Campus

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($82,790) Chemical Engineering ($75,766) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($73,229) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($68,002) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($63,674) Mechanical Engineering ($62,813) Engineering Technology, General ($60,250) Civil Engineering ($60,212)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Animal Sciences trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Animal Sciences at New Mexico State University-Main Campus?
A score of 32/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Animal Sciences. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Animal Sciences careers?
With 42% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $447,317 in decade earnings vs $471,308 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Animal Sciences from New Mexico State University-Main Campus?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →