by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 77 U.S. colleges awarded 774 degrees and certificates in Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 43% of graduates. College Factual ranks 24 schools in its 2027 Best Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $38,195 one year after completing, rising to $50,144 after four years.
A major in Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture covers Agroecology And Sustainable Agriculture. A Program That Focuses On Agricultural Principles And Practices That, Over The Long Term, Enhance Environmental Quality, Make Efficient Use Of Nonrenewable Resources, Integrate Natural Biological Cycles And Controls, And Are Economically Viable And Socially Responsible; And That May Prepare Individuals To Apply This Knowledge To The Solution Of Agricultural And Environmental Problems. Includes Instruction In Principles Of Agroecology, Crop And Soil Sciences, Entomology, Horticulture, Animal Science, Weed Science And Management, Soil Fertility And Nutrient Cycling, Applied Ecology, Agricultural Economics, And Rangeland Ecology And Watershed Management. Examples: [Agroecology], [Sustainable Agriculture], [Organic Farming].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., agroecology & sustainable agriculture draws strong interest, with 774 degrees awarded annually. 77 colleges award agroecology & sustainable agriculture degrees, an average of 10 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 55.
By level, the 774 awards include 32 certificates, 87 associate degrees, 329 bachelor’s degrees, 307 master’s degrees and 18 doctorates.
Women earned 55% of agroecology & sustainable agriculture degrees and certificates in the latest year (428 of 774). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (489) and Hispanic or Latino (105), and international students earned 57.
College Factual ranks 24 schools in its 2027 Best Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture Schools ranking, including 3 for associate degrees, 12 for bachelor’s degrees and 6 for master’s degrees. It also ranks agroecology & sustainable agriculture schools within 11 states. In all, 77 colleges offer agroecology & sustainable agriculture programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common agroecology & sustainable agriculture credential is the bachelor’s degree: 329 of the 774 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to agroecology & sustainable agriculture call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Biology and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an agroecology & sustainable agriculture degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 32 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 87 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 329 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 307 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 18 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to agroecology & sustainable agriculture, at 36.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 36.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 25.2% |
| Master’s degree | 15.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 14.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.8% |
| First professional degree | 0.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.2% |
| Some college courses | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
8 occupations are related to Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture, with an average median salary of $68,228; the strongest outlook belongs to Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, at 14.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include College Professor, Assistant Professor, Professor and Associate Professor.
The occupation related to agroecology & sustainable agriculture with the most projected jobs is Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary, at 497,622.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 497,622 | 4.3% |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 231,384 | 14.7% |
| Conservation Scientists | 208,826 | 13.4% |
| Range Managers | 175,572 | 1.3% |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | 172,528 | 3.7% |
| Park Naturalists | 46,677 | 9.4% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | 33,611 | -0.6% |
Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture graduates earn a median $38,195 one year after completing their program, $50,144 after four years and $47,551 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $38,195 |
| 4 years | $50,144 |
| 5 years | $47,551 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to agroecology & sustainable agriculture, with a median salary of $84,680.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | $84,680 |
| Conservation Scientists | $81,436 |
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,966 |
| Park Naturalists | $76,516 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| Range Managers | $59,935 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $59,587 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $36,803 |
Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture has 7 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 3,048 degrees a year; the largest are Agricultural Production Operations, General (970), Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production (862) and Crop Production (526). Browse all Agriculture majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Production Operations, General | 970 |
| Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production | 862 |
| Crop Production | 526 |
| Horse Husbandry/Equine Science and Management | 485 |
| Aquaculture | 132 |
| Dairy Husbandry and Production | 63 |
| Agricultural Production Operations, Other | 10 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
