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Animal Sciences at University of Wisconsin-River Falls

River Falls, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
47 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
47
Optimistic
47
Base Case
43
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,852/yr (12% vs median)
AI Risk High (42% exposed)
Job Market Large (99,000 openings/yr)
ROI 15.0x earnings multiple (7.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #14 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 $518K $515K $480K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.0x 15.0x 13.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.7x 7.6x 7.1x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 42% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 47 47 43

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$34,424
Out-of-state: $67,548 (7.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$58,856
-71% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,224
6.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,398
36% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Wisconsin-River Falls's Animal Sciences graduates start at $37,852/yr — above the $33,901 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 15.0x 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 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,224 debt-to-$37,852 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #14 out of 81 programs, University of Wisconsin-River Falls's Animal Sciences program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $37,852 to $51,398 shows 36% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Wisconsin-River Falls

A 82% acceptance rate means University of Wisconsin-River Falls is accessible to most applicants, a compact campus enrolling 4,152 students in River Falls, WI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Wisconsin-River Falls →

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 University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Physics ($62,196) Agricultural Engineering ($57,627) Accounting and Related Services ($56,825) Agricultural Business and Management ($53,911) Computer Systems Analysis ($52,507) Plant Sciences ($48,791) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($48,570) Social Work ($45,870)

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

How does University of Wisconsin-River Falls'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 University of Wisconsin-River Falls rank so high for Animal Sciences?
The #14 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 →