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2023 Plant Sciences Degree Guide

Your green thumb has inspired you to search for a career involving plants. Your bedroom window overflows with potted plants and you love nothing more than caring for plants and learning more about them. If this is the case, a major in Plant Science might be for you.

Plant Science gives you the ability to learn how to breed, cultivate, and produce agriculture plants. You also learn the process behind producing and distributing plant products. Classes in areas such as biotechnology, botany, agriculture economics, entomology, and plant pathology will provide the basis for how plants feed the general public and how to combat drought, disease and any other issues that affect plant production.

While you have the ability to major in general Plant Science, students often decide to concentrate in a certain area such as Agronomy and Crop Science, Horticultural Science, Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding, Plant Protection and Integrated Pest Management, Range Science and Management.

Plant Sciences Degrees Shrinking in Popularity

#164 Most Popular Major
3.2k Degrees Awarded
-2.2% Increase in Graduates

Plant Sciences was the 164th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 3,175 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 2.2% reduction in plant sciences degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 3,246.

Our 2023 Best Plant Sciences Schools ranking analyzes 72 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for plant sciences students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of plant sciences programs later in this article.

2023 Best Colleges for Plant Sciences
2023 Overall Best Plant Sciences Colleges >

Best Plant Sciences Schools by Degree

Associate Degrees in Plant Sciences
Bachelor's Degrees in Plant Sciences
Master's Degrees in Plant Sciences
Doctorate Degrees in Plant Sciences

What Are The Requirements For a Degree in Plant Sciences

Students with strong analytical and critical thinking skills would make ideal plant scientists. A lot of time is spent collecting and analyzing data through a variety of methods. Someone with a strong background in sciences, specifically biology, chemistry, and physical sciences, would be successful in this field as you work to test, genetically engineer, and maintain plants.

Although you work the typical 40-hour workweek, you don't spend too much time behind a desk. Plant Scientists are often out in the field working directly with plants or performing experiments in the lab.

Internships or summer jobs with research labs or farms provides you with experience gathering and analyzing data along with the ability to decide if this is the career path you wish to follow.

Plant Sciences Degree Program Entry Requirements

A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most plant sciences degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic plant sciences program qualifications, to serve in some plant sciences careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.

Plant Sciences Degree Types

There are many different plant sciences degree levels. Plant Sciences programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest plant sciences degree you can get. Different plant sciences degrees vary in how long they take.

Degree Credit Requirements Typical Program Length
Associate Degree 60-70 credits 2 years
Bachelor’s Degree 120 credits 4 years
Master’s Degree 50-70 credits 1-3 years
Doctorate Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation At least 4 years

A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to plant sciences, with approximately 29.0% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to plant sciences tend obtained the following education levels.

Level of Education Percentage of Workers
Doctoral Degree 27.5%
Bachelor’s Degree 25.7%
Post-Doctoral Training 10.4%
Master’s Degree 9.3%
High School Diploma 8.2%

Most workers in plant sciences have at least a bachelor's degree. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in plant sciences careers have.

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The education level required is different depending on the plant sciences career you are seeking.

Career Opportunities for A Degree In Plant Sciences Graduate

Below Average Number of Jobs
$38.7k Average Starting Salary
-0% Decline Job Outlook 2016-26

A degree in Plant Sciences opens many job opportunities for graduates. You may choose to work in research labs, farms, processing plants, or for food distributors. As a food scientist you also have the option to work for governments or research for universities and colleges.

Steady Demand Projected for Plant Sciences Careers

Want a job when you graduate with your plant sciences degree?

The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to plant sciences.

Occupation Name Projected Jobs Expected Growth
Farmers, Ranchers, and Agricultural Managers 1,020,700 -0.8%
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Worker Supervisors 49,700 2.1%
Conservation Scientists 23,700 6.3%
Soil and Plant Scientists 21,700 9.0%
Agricultural Sciences Professors 13,600 7.9%

Plant Sciences Degree Salary Potential

Recently graduated plant sciences students earned an average of $38,653 in 2019-2020. Earnings can range from as low as $21,017 to as high as $70,731. As you might expect, salaries for plant sciences graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.

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Highest Paid Plant Sciences Careers

Salaries for plant sciences graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers plant sciences grads often go into.

Occupation Name Median Average Salary
Forestry & Conservation Science Professors $92,550
Agricultural Sciences Professors $90,890
Farmers, Ranchers, and Agricultural Managers $79,940
Soil and Plant Scientists $70,630
Animal Scientists $67,690

Getting Your Plant Sciences Degree

With over 446 different plant sciences degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased plant sciences school rankings to help you with this.

Study Areas in Plant Sciences

One of 16 majors within the Agriculture & Agriculture Operations area of study, Plant Sciences has other similar majors worth exploring.

Plant Sciences Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Agronomy & Crop Science 1,153
Horticultural Science 823
Plant Science, General 668
Range Science & Management 190
Plant Protection & Integrated Pest Management 179

View All Plant Sciences Concentrations >

Related Major Annual Graduates
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians 8,646
Animal Science 8,294
Agricultural Economics & Business 8,098
General Agriculture 3,370
Horticulture 3,234

View All Plant Sciences Related Majors >

References

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