Virginia Tech opened a sprawling new $14 million Dairy Science Complex on Friday to train students how to become dairy scientists. The dairy program which is hugely popular with international students has been a fixture since the school started in 1872.

"We're looking forward to being the lead in research associated with dairy science because it's not only going to impact the food we eat here in Virginia but worldwide," Virginia Tech President Timothy Sands, told reporters, during Friday's grand opening.

Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

The school's new facility situated at Kentland Farm has the latest in dairy technology and will strengthen the university’s ability to perform frontline research.

"The professors are incredible and the school has great research and internships opportunities," says Karan Singh, a sophomore in Dairy Science. His family operates a dairy farm which produces milk, yogurt, cottage cheese and other dairy products.

Alumni from Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences are fiercely proud of their school and contribute generously towards supporting the program through scholarships.

How Do You Become a Dairy Scientist?

You need to have a bachelor's degree in Agricultural Science or Dairy Science. Schools offer undergraduate, master's and doctoral degrees which train students in dairy farm business management. Coursework is practical and geared towards helping students learn how to optimize dairy cattle performance and well-being, take advantage of electronic data, get a handle on farm finances and land resources and implement good environmental practices. It also includes topics in bovine health, animal feed, nutrition, cattle breeding, and agricultural systems.

Good Pay and Job Prospects

It's a paying profession for those with the right college degree in agriculture-related businesses like dairy. The U.S. dairy industry is in hiring mode with jobs projected to grow at a 9 percent clip until 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bureau says the median annual salary for diary and animal scientists is roughly $61,680.