by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 226 U.S. colleges awarded 4,242 degrees and certificates in Horticulture. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 45% of graduates. College Factual ranks 102 schools in its 2027 Best Horticulture Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $39,255 one year after completing, rising to $55,793 after four years.
If you have a green thumb, you may be a great fit for Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services.
Horticulture focuses on the production and processing of shrubs, foliage, trees, and other plants. Majoring in Horticulture means you will learn everything there is to know about plants. Many of your classes will include agriculture and biological sciences. Classes will focus on plant genetics, structures, and diseases. You will also take business classes to learn the basics of administration, management, and sales.
Schools offer the ability to major in general horticulture, but you also have the opportunity to choose a specialty. Some of these concentrations include Ornamental Horticulture, Greenhouse Operations and Management, Landscaping and Grounds keeping, Plant Nursery Operations and Management, Turf and Turf grass Management, Floriculture/Floristry Operations and Management.
A major in Horticulture covers Applied Horticulture And Horticultural Business Services.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., horticulture is a popular field of study, with 4,242 degrees awarded annually. 226 colleges award horticulture degrees, an average of 19 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 383.
By level, the 4,242 awards include 653 certificates, 1,309 associate degrees, 363 bachelor’s degrees and 1,905 master’s degrees.
Women earned 44% of horticulture degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,849 of 4,242). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,766) and Hispanic or Latino (701), and international students earned 31.
College Factual ranks 102 schools in its 2027 Best Horticulture Schools ranking, including 53 for associate degrees and 13 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks horticulture schools within 16 states. In all, 226 colleges offer horticulture programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Horticulture Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common horticulture credential is the master’s degree: 1,905 of the 4,242 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to horticulture call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Critical Thinking, 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 Speech Clarity.
Horticulturists arrange plants everywhere from residences and baseball fields to office buildings and golf courses. A degree in Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services will provide you with the ability to grow and maintain plants while having the ability to manipulate them through genetic mutations.
Since you will be working to sell your services, it is imperative that you have great marketing and customer service skills. You must also be extremely knowledgeable on certain types of plants, soils, and insects so you can meet customers' needs and ensure they are happy with the final result. Self-motivation and stamina are beneficial as you often do physically strenuous labor for long hours with little supervision. Typical work hours are anytime during the daylight hours causing some days to be very long.
Although it is not necessary, it would be beneficial to gain experience in this field with a summer job or internship. This will teach you the basics on how to plant and maintain areas before deciding to enter this field as a career.
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How long a horticulture degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 653 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,309 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 363 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,905 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to horticulture, at 30.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 30.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 14.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 12.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 11.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 8.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 7.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.7% |
| Some college courses | 2.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
9 occupations are related to Horticulture, with an average median salary of $46,851; the strongest outlook belongs to Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, at 14.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Adjunct Instructor, Farm Management Specialist, Farm Consultant and Extension Service Specialist.
There is a wide variety of careers open to you when you major in Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services. You have the option to open your own landscaping business, become a nursery or greenhouse manager, work as a grounds keeper, or go into commercial fruit or vegetable production. Anything plant related is available to you. Plus, this is a growing career. Job opportunities are increasing, especially in areas with a warmer climate.
The occupation related to horticulture with the most projected jobs is Farm and Home Management Educators, at 1,304,119.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Farm and Home Management Educators | 1,304,119 | 14.0% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 830,802 | 5.3% |
| Forest and Conservation Workers | 400,323 | 11.1% |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers | 276,926 | 4.4% |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 231,384 | 14.7% |
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 139,205 | -2.2% |
| Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation | 59,660 | 1.1% |
Horticulture graduates earn a median $39,255 one year after completing their program, $55,793 after four years and $48,970 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $39,255 |
| 4 years | $55,793 |
| 5 years | $48,970 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to horticulture, with a median salary of $84,680.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | $84,680 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $55,950 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $53,224 |
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | $43,138 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $36,803 |
| Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation | $34,037 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers | $24,378 |
Horticulture includes 9 concentrations that together award 4,242 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations, General (2,251), Landscaping and Groundskeeping (977) and Turf and Turfgrass Management (385). It has 18 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 49,891 degrees a year; the largest are Agricultural Business and Management (8,920), Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians (8,916) and Animal Sciences (8,777). Browse all Agriculture majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Business and Management | 8,920 |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | 8,916 |
| Animal Sciences | 8,777 |
| 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.
