by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 141 U.S. colleges awarded 2,251 degrees and certificates in Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 47% of graduates. College Factual ranks 56 schools in its 2027 Best Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations 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.
A degree in Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations explores Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations, General. A Program That Focuses On The General Production And Processing Of Domesticated Plants, Shrubs, Flowers, Foliage, Trees, Groundcovers, And Related Plant Materials; The Management Of Technical And Business Operations Connected With Horticultural Services; And The Basic Scientific Principles Needed To Understand Plants And Their Management And Care.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, applied horticulture/horticulture operations is a widely-pursued major, with 2,251 degrees awarded annually. 141 colleges award applied horticulture/horticulture operations degrees, an average of 16 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 383.
By level, the 2,251 awards include 374 certificates, 702 associate degrees, 112 bachelor’s degrees and 1,057 master’s degrees.
Women earned 43% of applied horticulture/horticulture operations degrees and certificates in the latest year (969 of 2,251). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,390) and Hispanic or Latino (356), and international students earned 12.
College Factual ranks 56 schools in its 2027 Best Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations Schools ranking, including 24 for associate degrees and 4 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks applied horticulture/horticulture operations schools within 7 states. In all, 141 colleges offer applied horticulture/horticulture operations programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common applied horticulture/horticulture operations credential is the master’s degree: 1,057 of the 2,251 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to applied horticulture/horticulture operations call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an applied horticulture/horticulture operations degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 374 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 702 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 112 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,057 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to applied horticulture/horticulture operations, at 46.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 46.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 10.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 6.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 5.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.3% |
| Some college courses | 1.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations, with an average median salary of $55,010; the strongest outlook belongs to Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, at 14.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Adjunct Instructor, Home Demonstration Agent, County Demonstrator and County Agricultural Agent.
The occupation related to applied horticulture/horticulture operations 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% |
| 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% |
Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations 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 applied horticulture/horticulture operations, 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 |
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | $43,138 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers | $24,378 |
Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations has 8 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 1,991 degrees a year; the largest are Landscaping and Groundskeeping (977), Turf and Turfgrass Management (385) and Plant Nursery Operations and Management (156). Browse all Agriculture majors or the full list of college majors.
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