Wichita, KS (population: 374,803) has forty animal behavior schools within a 500-mile radius of its city center. Texas A & M University, the highest ranked school in this group with an animal behavior program, has a total student population of 48,702. It is the 36th highest ranked school in the USA and one of the highest in the state .
Animal Behavior students from Wichita schools who go on to become animal behavioralists, animal trainers, dog trainers, animal scientists, etc. have a good chance at finding employment. For example, there are 10,080 people working as animal trainers alone in the US, and their average annual salary is $31,080. Also, Zoologists and wildlife biologists make on average $60,670 per year and there are about 17,460 of them employed in the US today.
Wichita lies in Sedgwick county, which is one of the 67 counties in Kansas. Overall, the Wichita area has 295,670 total employed workers according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a 2.3% unemployment rate, $18.81/hr average worker wage, and a $39,110 average annual salary.
Of the 40 animal behavior schools with a 500-mile radius of Wichita, only 20 have a student population over 10k. After taking into account tuition, living expenses, and financial aid, University of Denver comes out as the most expensive ($31,044/yr) for animal behavior students, with Odessa College as the lowest, reported at only $4,063/yr.
| Name | State | Population | # of Schools | Avg School Rank | Total Programs | Distance from Wichita |
| North Newton | KS | - | 1 | 30.3056 | 44 | 26.4 miles |
| El Dorado | KS | - | 2 | 14.14 | 133 | 27.6 miles |
| Winfield | KS | - | 1 | 53.8865 | 62 | 36.4 miles |
| Arkansas City | KS | - | 1 | 16.4747 | 36 | 46.5 miles |
| Lindsborg | KS | - | 1 | 18.8974 | 70 | 63.8 miles |
| Ponca City | OK | - | 2 | 30.535 | 26 | 69.4 miles |
| Pratt | KS | - | 1 | 19.626 | 18 | 76.6 miles |
| Salina | KS | 46,677 | 4 | 21.0387 | 91 | 79.6 miles |
| Great Bend | KS | - | 1 | 20.0068 | 110 | 90.6 miles |
| Enid | OK | 48,152 | 2 | 30.1217 | 45 | 93.2 miles |