by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 889 U.S. colleges awarded 54,133 degrees and certificates in Agriculture & Agriculture Operations. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 39% of graduates. College Factual ranks 554 schools in its 2027 Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $43,182 one year after completing, rising to $54,960 after four years.
The production and selling of food is a huge industry and the majors available within this field of study reflect that. Students with a business bent may be interested in Agricultural Economics & Business, while those who are interested in raising livestock may choose a major in Animal Science. Others may be interested in studying Applied Horticulture or Food Science. There are many more majors in this field you can further explore.
Some Ag students grew up on or worked on a farm, however you don't need to have grown up on a farm in order to succeed in an agriculture career. Students in agriculture go on to find jobs in multiple areas. Many run their own farms or ranches; or they may manage a larger company's agricultural business. Others work for companies as food scientists or lab technicians, communication managers or public relation experts. Agriculture graduates also find work in environmental research for the public or private sector.
Studying Agriculture & Agriculture Operations explores Agricultural/animal/plant/veterinary Science And Related Fields. Instructional Programs That Focus On Agriculture, Animal, Plant, Veterinary, And Related Sciences And That Prepares Individuals To Apply Specific Knowledge, Methods, And Techniques To The Management And Performance Of Agricultural And Veterinary Operations.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., agriculture & agriculture operations is a popular field of study, with 54,133 degrees awarded annually. 889 colleges award agriculture & agriculture operations degrees, an average of 61 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,749.
By level, the 54,133 awards include 4,369 certificates, 10,929 associate degrees, 21,352 bachelor’s degrees, 12,581 master’s degrees and 4,748 doctorates.
Women earned 65% of agriculture & agriculture operations degrees and certificates in the latest year (35,173 of 54,133). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (34,551) and Hispanic or Latino (10,101), and international students earned 1,959.
College Factual ranks 554 schools in its 2027 Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools ranking, including 285 for associate degrees, 159 for bachelor’s degrees, 60 for master’s degrees and 37 for doctorates. It also ranks agriculture & agriculture operations schools within 50 states. In all, 889 colleges offer agriculture & agriculture operations programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common agriculture & agriculture operations credential is the bachelor’s degree: 21,352 of the 54,133 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to agriculture & agriculture operations call most for Active Listening, Reading Comprehension and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Customer and Personal Service and Biology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Because of the wide range of majors available, students of many different interests are drawn to and can succeed in this field. Strong science skills are recommended. Students may also want to gain work experience through part-time jobs, internships or co-op positions.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an agriculture & agriculture operations degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 4,369 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 10,929 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 21,352 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 12,581 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4,748 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to agriculture & agriculture operations, at 32.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 32.7% |
| Master’s degree | 20.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 12.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 9.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 8.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.3% |
| Some college courses | 3.0% |
| First professional degree | 2.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
30 occupations are related to Agriculture & Agriculture Operations, with an average median salary of $59,604; the strongest outlook belongs to Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, at 14.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Adjunct Instructor, Teacher, Animal Anatomist and Veterinary Meat Inspector (Vet Meat Inspector).
Those in the agricultural field fill a variety of positions in both the public and private sector. We may traditionally think of the farmer managing his own farm, but there are many more opportunities. Individuals may work as horticulture specialists cultivating flowers, fruits and vegetables. This can also be a great field of study for those interested in environmental issues. Agriculture grads find positions as Environmental Analysts and Planners, Waste Coordinators, Water Resource Specialists, and Park Rangers and Foresters, or they may find jobs researching water quality and wildlife.
Fields in food science include researchers, food chemists and lab technicians. These individuals may work for large food companies or invent new flavors or methods of processing food.
As you can see, this is a diverse and fascinating field. What part of agriculture are you most passionate about? Whether it's finding more effective methods of growing crops, researching the health of soil and water, caring for livestock or running your own business there is a wide variety in the career field.
The occupation related to agriculture & agriculture operations with the most projected jobs is Veterinarians, at 3,199,646.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Veterinarians | 3,199,646 | 13.9% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 1,904,234 | -0.4% |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | 1,855,145 | -4.7% |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | 1,848,074 | 11.4% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 1,332,640 | 6.0% |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | 1,326,215 | 6.9% |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | 1,304,119 | 14.0% |
Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates earn a median $43,182 one year after completing their program, $54,960 after four years and $52,673 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,182 |
| 4 years | $54,960 |
| 5 years | $52,673 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to agriculture & agriculture operations is Medical and Health Services Managers, with a median salary of $129,557.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products | $109,813 |
| Food Science Technicians | $100,898 |
| Animal Scientists | $93,823 |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $86,398 |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | $84,680 |
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,966 |
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | $69,831 |
Agriculture & Agriculture Operations includes 19 concentrations that together award 54,133 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Agricultural Business and Management (8,920), Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians (8,916) and Animal Sciences (8,777). Browse the full list of college majors.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
