by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 342 U.S. colleges awarded 8,920 degrees and certificates in Agricultural Economics & Business. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 56% of graduates. College Factual ranks 167 schools in its 2027 Best Agricultural Economics & Business Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $49,738 one year after completing, rising to $67,333 after four years.
Are you interested in farming, ranching or another agricultural field? Would you find it fulfilling to manage your own farm, raise livestock, grow crops or manage an agricultural business?
While it's true that a major in agricultural economics and business will include classes related to agricultural science, there is a lot more to it than that. Many students will aspire to go into their own business, and classes will include business management, economics, human resource management, finance, planning, marketing, retail and much more.
Concentrations in this major include such fields as Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Farm and Ranch Management, Farm Supplies Retail & Wholesaling and Agricultural Business Technology among others. Make sure your concentration of interest is available at the college you choose.
A degree in Agricultural Economics & Business explores Agricultural Business And Management.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, agricultural economics & business is a popular field of study, with 8,920 degrees awarded annually. 342 colleges award agricultural economics & business degrees, an average of 26 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 863.
By level, the 8,920 awards include 671 certificates, 1,855 associate degrees, 5,011 bachelor’s degrees, 1,343 master’s degrees and 37 doctorates.
Women earned 44% of agricultural economics & business degrees and certificates in the latest year (3,882 of 8,920). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (6,676) and Hispanic or Latino (1,085), and international students earned 229.
College Factual ranks 167 schools in its 2027 Best Agricultural Economics & Business Schools ranking, including 63 for associate degrees, 82 for bachelor’s degrees, 10 for master’s degrees and 1 for doctorates. It also ranks agricultural economics & business schools within 40 states. In all, 342 colleges offer agricultural economics & business programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Agricultural Economics & Business Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common agricultural economics & business credential is the bachelor’s degree: 5,011 of the 8,920 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to agricultural economics & business call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Customer and Personal Service and Administration and Management, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Many people are attracted to this field because they have a passion for farming, producing food from the land and working outdoors. Depending on your role in the organization, this field may require strenuous physical labor and may not follow a traditional schedule of a 40-hour work week. Many people in this field are self-employed. Some are hired as managers for larger companies. Not only does this field require extensive knowledge of farming, whether crops or livestock, it also requires strong business skills. Farmers and Agricultural managers will often have a hand in multiple areas, including managing payroll and taxes, hiring employees, determining sales opportunities, marketing their product and planning the future of the business.
This field will require a strong science background, business training and good communication skills. This is a varied and exciting job for those with a driving interest in the growing, producing, selling and marketing of food.
Work experience is an important aspect to finding a job in this field. Students who are interested in pursuing this major should find opportunities to get first-hand experience through a summer job, internship, Co-op or work abroad program.
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How long an agricultural economics & business degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 671 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,855 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 5,011 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,343 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 37 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to agricultural economics & business, at 26.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 26.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 21.2% |
| Master’s degree | 14.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 14.1% |
| Some college courses | 7.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.5% |
| First professional degree | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
11 occupations are related to Agricultural Economics & Business, with an average median salary of $64,831; the strongest outlook belongs to Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, at 14.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Adjunct Instructor, Instructor, Professor and Associate Professor.
A degree in agricultural economics and business provides students with a broad set of skills. Students would be well poised to run their own farm or business, or work as a manager in an agricultural field. Students will also have the ability to specialize in areas of particular interest to them.
The occupation related to agricultural economics & business with the most projected jobs is First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers, at 1,904,234.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 1,904,234 | -0.4% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 1,332,640 | 6.0% |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | 1,304,119 | 14.0% |
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | 830,747 | 2.9% |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products | 526,798 | 6.9% |
| Computer User Support Specialists | 428,265 | 11.0% |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 231,384 | 14.7% |
Agricultural Economics & Business graduates earn a median $49,738 one year after completing their program, $67,333 after four years and $66,296 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $49,738 |
| 4 years | $67,333 |
| 5 years | $66,296 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to agricultural economics & business is Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products, with a median salary of $109,813.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products | $109,813 |
| Environmental Economists | $86,726 |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | $84,680 |
| Economists | $73,611 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $71,530 |
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | $69,831 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $55,950 |
Agricultural Economics & Business includes 7 concentrations that together award 8,920 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations (3,788), Agricultural Business and Management, General (2,258) and Agricultural Economics (1,708). It has 18 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 45,213 degrees a year; the largest are Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians (8,916), Animal Sciences (8,777) and Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services (4,242). Browse all Agriculture majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | 8,916 |
| Animal Sciences | 8,777 |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | 4,242 |
| Veterinary Medicine | 3,882 |
| Agricultural Production Operations | 3,822 |
| Plant Sciences | 3,510 |
| Agriculture, General | 3,002 |
| Food Science and Technology | 2,250 |
| Agricultural Mechanization | 1,491 |
| Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services | 1,217 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
