Zoology/Animal Biology Colleges Under $20,000

Ohio University dominates affordable animal biology education with five regional campuses offering identical in-state tuition of $6,178, yet graduation rates vary dramatically from 12.1% at Chillicothe to 20% at the Eastern campus. This stark performance gap illustrates how campus culture and student support services can make or break outcomes in a field requiring hands-on laboratory experience and field research opportunities. The University of Florida stands out as the only program under $7,000 with a 91.5% graduation rate, demonstrating that quality animal biology education doesn't require premium pricing. National wildlife agencies, zoos, and research institutions increasingly recruit from cost-effective state programs, with graduates earning between $16,345 and $33,077 depending on specialization and geographic location. Western states like Utah and Wyoming offer particularly strong value propositions, combining low net costs with access to varied ecosystems and federal land research opportunities that East Coast students often lack.

Programs

$4,503 – $17,485

Net Price Range

$25,340

Avg. Program Earnings

61.3%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Zoology/Animal Biology Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Ohio University-Eastern Campus Saint Clairsville, Ohio	$4,503	$6,178	20.0%
2	Ohio University-Southern Campus Ironton, Ohio	$5,328	$6,178	19.3%
3	Ohio University-Zanesville Campus Zanesville, Ohio	$5,971	$6,178	17.7%
4	Ohio University-Lancaster Campus Lancaster, Ohio	$6,133	$6,178	13.7%
5	University of Florida Gainesville, Florida	$6,351	$6,381	91.5%	23.4%
6	Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus Chillicothe, Ohio	$6,483	$6,178	12.1%
7	Western New Mexico University Silver City, New Mexico	$7,912	$7,868	34.9%
8	University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Waterbury, Connecticut	$8,896	$17,462	59.5%	97.9%
9	Weber State University Ogden, Utah	$10,722	$6,391	43.0%
10	University of Connecticut-Avery Point Groton, Connecticut	$11,504	$17,462	56.7%	97.4%
11	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, California	$11,580	$7,439	66.7%	55.4%
12	University of California-San Diego La Jolla, California	$11,750	$15,265	87.6%	23.7%
13	University of Wyoming Laramie, Wyoming	$11,779	$6,938	59.8%	96.0%
14	University of Michigan-Flint Flint, Michigan	$12,280	$14,014	44.6%	66.4%
15	Utah State University Logan, Utah	$12,869	$9,228	57.3%	93.7%
16	San Francisco State University San Francisco, California	$12,882	$7,424	50.1%	94.2%
17	California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Arcata, California	$13,167	$7,913	46.6%	98.2%
18	University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, Hawaii	$13,181	$12,186	62.6%	72.8%
19	University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus Hartford, Connecticut	$13,339	$17,452	65.4%	97.3%
20	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, Washington	$13,485	$12,643	83.7%	47.5%
21	University of California-Riverside Riverside, California	$13,707	$14,170	76.6%	68.7%
22	San Jose State University San Jose, California	$13,741	$7,992	64.7%	76.7%
23	University of Idaho Moscow, Idaho	$13,782	$8,816	60.9%	73.9%
24	University of Georgia Athens, Georgia	$13,816	$11,180	87.2%	42.6%
25	University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, California	$13,825	$14,965	85.3%	25.9%
26	Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, Indiana	$13,945	$9,992	83.1%	52.7%
27	University of Connecticut-Stamford Stamford, Connecticut	$14,059	$17,472	56.9%	92.2%
28	Washington State University Pullman, Washington	$14,401	$12,997	61.6%	83.1%
29	Brigham Young University Provo, Utah	$14,487	$6,496	82.2%	66.7%
30	Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, Arizona	$14,922	$12,652	56.9%	80.0%
31	University of Akron Main Campus Akron, Ohio	$14,981	$12,799	48.2%	82.9%
32	University of California-Davis Davis, California	$15,288	$15,247	85.1%	37.3%
33	Frostburg State University Frostburg, Maryland	$15,323	$9,998	52.1%	87.9%
34	Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, Indiana	$15,342	$11,790	81.2%	82.4%
35	Mississippi State University Mississippi State, Mississippi	$15,501	$9,815	62.9%	75.2%
36	University of Maryland-College Park College Park, Maryland	$15,590	$11,505	88.6%	44.6%
37	Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Carbondale, Illinois	$16,177	$13,244	56.3%	91.5%
38	North Dakota State University-Main Campus Fargo, North Dakota	$16,334	$10,857	63.7%	95.7%
39	Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Stillwater, Oklahoma	$16,378	$10,234	65.9%	70.6%
40	Texas State University San Marcos, Texas	$16,438	$11,450	56.2%	87.7%
41	University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, Wisconsin	$16,928	$11,205	89.3%	49.1%
42	North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, North Carolina	$16,931	$8,895	84.6%	47.2%
43	University of Delaware Newark, Delaware	$16,931	$16,080	78.8%	73.8%
44	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, Minnesota	$17,139	$16,488	84.8%	74.9%
45	University of Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky	$17,218	$13,212	69.9%	94.9%
46	State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, New York	$17,231	$8,769	60.4%	82.6%
47	Idaho State University Pocatello, Idaho	$17,324	$8,356	38.3%
48	University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Norman, Oklahoma	$17,413	$9,595	75.3%	72.9%
49	University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, Nebraska	$17,424	$10,108	65.8%	78.6%
50	Northern Michigan University Marquette, Michigan	$17,485	$13,304	50.8%	70.6%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the massive graduation rate differences between Ohio University campuses?

Ohio University's five regional campuses share identical $6,178 in-state tuition but show graduation rates ranging from 12.1% to 20%. The Eastern Campus achieves the highest completion rate at 20%, while Chillicothe struggles at just 12.1%. These disparities likely reflect differences in student support services, laboratory facilities, and faculty-to-student ratios across campuses. All Ohio campuses carry similar $23,356 average debt loads, making campus selection important for program completion.

How does University of Florida achieve a 91.5% graduation rate at under $7,000?

University of Florida combines a $6,351 net cost with strong student outcomes, graduating 91.5% of animal biology students compared to the national average around 60%. The program accepts only 23.35% of applicants, ensuring academically prepared students who can handle rigorous coursework. Florida's extensive wetlands, marine ecosystems, and research partnerships with organizations like the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission provide unmatched field experience opportunities that keep students engaged through graduation.

Where do animal biology graduates earn the highest starting salaries?

Connecticut programs lead in earnings potential, with University of Connecticut graduates earning $30,771 annually despite higher net costs around $8,896 to $11,504. Utah State University matches this earning level at $30,771 while maintaining a lower $12,869 net cost. Wyoming graduates earn $28,870 with just $11,779 in net costs, making it an excellent value proposition. These salary differences often reflect regional job markets, with New England and Western states offering more federal research positions and higher cost-of-living adjustments.

Is University of California-San Diego worth the higher costs?

UC San Diego charges $11,750 net cost but delivers an impressive 87.6% graduation rate with highly selective 23.71% admissions. The program benefits from proximity to top-tier research institutions like Scripps Institution of Oceanography and San Diego Zoo Global. Students gain access to marine biology research opportunities unavailable at inland schools, though earnings data wasn't provided for comparison. The high graduation rate suggests strong academic support and career preparation despite the premium pricing.

Does geographic location significantly impact program affordability?

Western states generally offer better value, with Wyoming at $11,779 net cost and Utah State at $12,869 providing strong graduation rates above 57%. Ohio dominates the lowest-cost tier with five campuses under $7,000, though graduation rates remain concerning below 21%. Florida provides strong value at $6,351 with outstanding outcomes, while California schools like Cal Poly Pomona offer moderate $11,580 costs with solid 66.7% graduation rates. Regional job markets and state funding levels create these geographic cost patterns.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.