Certificate (1-2 years)189 grads tracked
Animal Sciences at Kirkwood Community College
Ranked 2nd of 2 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Animal Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$26,644
middle 50%: $22,499 – $31,455
Median · 5 years out
$33,209
middle 50%: $25,911 – $40,883
Median · 10 years out
$37,897
middle 50%: $30,437 – $48,829
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Animal Sciences (certificate (1-2 years)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Animal Sciences certificate graduates earn a $27k median in their first year. Earnings reach $38k by the tenth year.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
13.6 yrs
≈ $16,430 total interest
Same major at other universities
Other majors at Kirkwood Community College
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$85,664 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
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Computer Programming (Certificate)
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Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$67,675 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$67,570 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$67,528 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Certificate)
$65,511 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Associate)
$65,458 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Associate)
$65,458 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Associate)
$65,062 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$65,062 · 5 yrs out
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