by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 132 U.S. colleges awarded 3,510 degrees and certificates in Plant Sciences. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 59% of graduates. College Factual ranks 71 schools in its 2027 Best Plant Sciences Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $45,321 one year after completing, rising to $60,119 after four years.
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.
Studying Plant Sciences explores Plant Sciences.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, plant sciences draws strong interest, with 3,510 degrees awarded annually. 132 colleges award plant sciences degrees, an average of 27 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 136.
By level, the 3,510 awards include 62 certificates, 195 associate degrees, 2,081 bachelor’s degrees, 823 master’s degrees and 326 doctorates.
Women earned 48% of plant sciences degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,689 of 3,510). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,350) and Hispanic or Latino (439), and international students earned 399.
College Factual ranks 71 schools in its 2027 Best Plant Sciences Schools ranking, including 6 for associate degrees, 58 for bachelor’s degrees, 24 for master’s degrees and 13 for doctorates. It also ranks plant sciences schools within 41 states. In all, 132 colleges offer plant sciences programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Plant Sciences Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common plant sciences credential is the bachelor’s degree: 2,081 of the 3,510 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to plant sciences call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Biology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
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.
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How long a plant sciences degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 62 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 195 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,081 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 823 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 326 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to plant sciences, at 45.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 45.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 18.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 6.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.7% |
| First professional degree | 0.5% |
| Some college courses | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
12 occupations are related to Plant Sciences, with an average median salary of $66,379; the strongest outlook belongs to Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, at 14.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Adjunct Instructor, County Extension Agent, Agriculture Consultant and Home Services Advisor.
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.
The occupation related to plant sciences 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% |
| 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% |
| Precision Agriculture Technicians | 167,331 | 6.9% |
Plant Sciences graduates earn a median $45,321 one year after completing their program, $60,119 after four years and $56,395 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $45,321 |
| 4 years | $60,119 |
| 5 years | $56,395 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to plant sciences is Animal Scientists, with a median salary of $93,823.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Animal Scientists | $93,823 |
| 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 |
Plant Sciences includes 7 concentrations that together award 3,510 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Agronomy and Crop Science (1,387), Horticultural Science (883) and Plant Sciences, General (758). It has 18 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 50,623 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.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Agronomy and Crop Science | 1,387 |
| Horticultural Science | 883 |
| Plant Sciences, General | 758 |
| Plant Protection and Integrated Pest Management | 199 |
| Range Science and Management | 137 |
| Plant Sciences, Other | 104 |
| Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding | 42 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Business and Management | 8,920 |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | 8,916 |
| Animal Sciences | 8,777 |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | 4,242 |
| Veterinary Medicine | 3,882 |
| Agricultural Production Operations | 3,822 |
| 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.
