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# Best Zoology Programs in the West (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Regional list from [Best Zoology Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-zoology-programs/)

This page ranks the 7 Zoology programs in the West by median earnings of Zoology graduates four years after completing, highest first. [Brigham Young University](/school/brigham-young-university/majors/) leads the list at $57,020, with a cohort of 27 graduates in the earnings cohort.

The figures range from $57,020 down to $38,495, and the median across the listed programs is $44,226.

Public institutions account for 6 of the 7 programs, with 1 private nonprofit school on the list. Brigham Young University ranks 27th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, the strongest showing in the group.

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt posts the lowest average net price at $13,171.

## The ranked list

7 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Brigham Young University · Provo, UT | $57,020 | $15,564 | $10,444 | 67.8% |
|  | [Brigham Young University](/school/brigham-young-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $57,020](/school/brigham-young-university/outcomes/) for its Zoology graduates four years after completing, the highest on this list. |
| 2 | University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA | $53,727 | $16,109 | $9,231 | 33.0% |
|  | [University of California-Santa Barbara](/school/university-of-california-santa-barbara/majors/) [admits 33% of applicants](/school/university-of-california-santa-barbara/admissions/) and its Zoology graduates earn a median of $53,727 four years after completing. |
| 3 | University of Wyoming · Laramie, WY | $44,424 | $13,599 | $7,977 | 96.9% |
|  | With an [average net price of $13,599,](/school/university-of-wyoming/cost/) [University of Wyoming](/school/university-of-wyoming/majors/) ranks 3rd on this list and reports median earnings of $44,424 for its Zoology graduates four years after completing. |
| 4 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins · Fort Collins, CO | $44,226 | $21,279 | $13,259 | 88.5% |
|  | [Colorado State University-Fort Collins](/school/colorado-state-university-fort-collins/majors/) has a Zoology earnings cohort of 200 graduates and an [average net price of $21,279](/school/colorado-state-university-fort-collins/cost/). |
| 5 | Oregon State University · Corvallis, OR | $44,201 | $19,604 | $12,107 | 77.3% |
|  | [Oregon State University](/school/oregon-state-university/majors/) [ranks 126th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/oregon-state-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Zoology completers who borrowed left with a median of $24,596 in federal loans. |
| 6 | Washington State University · Pullman, WA | $41,888 | $14,971 | $7,074 | 86.6% |
|  | [Washington State University](/school/washington-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $41,888](/school/washington-state-university/outcomes/) for its Zoology graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 87%. |
| 7 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt · Arcata, CA | $38,495 | $13,171 | $8,483 | 98.2% |
|  | [California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-humboldt/majors/) has the lowest average net price on the page at $13,171 and an [admission rate of 98%](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-humboldt/admissions/). |

## How this list is ordered

Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Zoology graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the West appear. The figure covers federally aided completers of the program who were working and not enrolled four years after completing. It does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The gap between Brigham Young University and University of California-Santa Barbara is $3,293, and the spread from the top of the list to the bottom is $18,525.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Colleges in the West](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-west/)
-   Biological Sciences Colleges in the West for Social Mobility