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Animal handler education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an animal handler. Animal handlers usually study biology, animal science, or business. 45% of animal handlers hold a bachelor's degree, and 22% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 485 real animal handler resumes to see exactly what animal handler education sections show.
The most common colleges for animal handlers are the Miami Dade College and the Miami Dade College.
There are also many online animal handler courses to help get the education required to be an animal handler.
What education do you need to become an animal handler?
What degree do you need to be an animal handler?
- Bachelor's, 45%
- Associate, 22%
- High School Diploma, 21%
- Diploma, 6%
- Other Degrees, 6%
What should I major in to become an animal handler?
- Biology, 12%
- Animal Science, 11%
- Business, 9%
- Psychology, 9%
- Other Majors, 59%
Most common colleges for animal handlers
| Animal handler common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Miami Dade College | 6.67% |
| Colorado State University | 6.67% |
| University of Wisconsin Colleges | 6.67% |
| University of California, Santa Barbara | 6.67% |
| Old Dominion University | 6.67% |
Best majors for animal handlers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biology | 11.9% |
| 2 | Animal Science | 10.6% |
| 3 | Business | 9.3% |
| 4 | Psychology | 8.6% |
| 5 | Medical Assisting Services | 8.6% |
Best colleges for animal handlers
The best colleges for animal handlers are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and Vanderbilt University.
An animal handler with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for animal handlers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become animal handlers.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
2. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
3. Ohio State University
Columbus, OH • Private
In-state tuition
$10,726
Enrollment
45,769
4. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
5. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
6. University of Colorado Denver
Denver, CO • Private
In-state tuition
$9,283
Enrollment
11,892
7. University of Vermont
Burlington, VT • Private
In-state tuition
$18,276
Enrollment
10,612
8. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
9. University of New Hampshire
Durham, NH • Private
In-state tuition
$18,499
Enrollment
12,668
10. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
20 best online courses for animal handlers
Advertising disclosure
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Learn essential knowledge and skills to be able to confidently carry out emergency first aid on a pet animal...
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14. Value-Based Care: Managing Processes to Improve Outcomes
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15. Thinking About Care
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Top 10 most affordable universities for animal handlers
The most affordable schools for animal handlers are Hunter College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and california state university - bakersfield.
If the best universities for animal handlers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for animal handlers.
1. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
2. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
3. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
4. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
5. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
6. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
7. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
8. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
9. California State University - Fresno
Fresno, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,587
Cost of attendance
16,915
10. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,353
Cost of attendance
21,302
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for animal handlers
The hardest universities for animal handlers to get into are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and Vanderbilt University.
Some great schools for animal handlers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for animal handlers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
3. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
4. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
5. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
6. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
7. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
8. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
9. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
10. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for animal handlers
The easiest schools for animal handlers to get into are AdventHealth University, barry university, and notre dame de namur university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an animal handler without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for animal handlers.
1. AdventHealth University
Orlando, FL • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,016
2. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
3. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
4. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
5. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
6. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
7. Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,002
8. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
9. Presentation College
Aberdeen, SD • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,050
10. Centenary University
Hackettstown, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
67%
SAT average
987
Average animal handler salary by education level
| Animal handler education level | Animal handler salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $26,920 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $29,882 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $28,441 |
Animal handler education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common personal care and attendants questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025