by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 35 U.S. colleges awarded 385 degrees and certificates in Turf & Turfgrass Management. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 48% of graduates. College Factual ranks 13 schools in its 2027 Best Turf & Turfgrass Management 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.
Studying Turf & Turfgrass Management covers Turf And Turfgrass Management. A Program That Focuses On Turfgrasses And Related Groundcover Plants And Prepares Individuals To Develop Ornamental Or Recreational Grasses And Related Products; Plant, Transplant, And Manage Grassed Areas; And To Produce And Store Turf Used For Transplantation. Includes Instruction In Applicable Plant Sciences, Genetics Of Grasses, Turf Science, Use Analysis, Turf Management, And Related Economics. Examples: [Golf And Sports Turf Management].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, turf & turfgrass management draws strong interest, with 385 degrees awarded annually. 35 colleges award turf & turfgrass management degrees, an average of 11 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 47.
By level, the 385 awards include 55 certificates, 185 associate degrees, 79 bachelor’s degrees and 66 master’s degrees.
Women earned 10% of turf & turfgrass management degrees and certificates in the latest year (38 of 385). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (334) and Hispanic or Latino (21), and international students earned 1.
College Factual ranks 13 schools in its 2027 Best Turf & Turfgrass Management Schools ranking, including 7 for associate degrees and 4 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks turf & turfgrass management schools within 5 states. In all, 35 colleges offer turf & turfgrass management programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Turf & Turfgrass Management Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common turf & turfgrass management credential is the associate degree: 185 of the 385 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to turf & turfgrass management call most for Speaking, Active Listening 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 Problem Sensitivity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a turf & turfgrass management degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 55 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 185 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 79 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 66 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to turf & turfgrass management, at 21.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 21.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 16.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 13.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 11.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 10.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.9% |
| Master’s degree | 5.3% |
| Some college courses | 3.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Turf & Turfgrass Management, with an average median salary of $42,114; the strongest outlook belongs to Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, at 4.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Junior Landscape Crew Leader, Agronomy Instructor, Floriculture Professor and Fisheries Professor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to turf & turfgrass management, at 297,433.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers | 276,926 | 4.4% |
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 139,205 | -2.2% |
| Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation | 59,660 | 1.1% |
Turf & Turfgrass Management 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 turf & turfgrass management, with a median salary of $66,903.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | $43,138 |
| Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation | $34,037 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers | $24,378 |
Turf & Turfgrass Management has 8 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 3,857 degrees a year; the largest are Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations, General (2,251), Landscaping and Groundskeeping (977) and Plant Nursery Operations and Management (156). Browse all Agriculture majors or the full list of college majors.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
