by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 6 U.S. colleges awarded 42 degrees and certificates in Agricultural & Horticultural Plant Breeding. Doctorates are the most popular award, at 57% of graduates. College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Agricultural & Horticultural Plant Breeding 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.
A major in Agricultural & Horticultural Plant Breeding covers Agricultural And Horticultural Plant Breeding. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Genetics And Genetic Engineering To The Improvement Of Agricultural Plant Health, The Development Of New Plant Varieties, And The Selective Improvement Of Agricultural Plant Populations. Includes Instruction In Genetics, Genetic Engineering, Population Genetics, Agronomy, Plant Protection, And Biotechnology.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, agricultural & horticultural plant breeding is a widely-pursued major, with 42 degrees awarded annually. 6 colleges award agricultural & horticultural plant breeding degrees, an average of 7 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 10.
By level, the 42 awards include 6 bachelor’s degrees, 12 master’s degrees and 24 doctorates.
Women earned 55% of agricultural & horticultural plant breeding degrees and certificates in the latest year (23 of 42). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (23) and Hispanic or Latino (4), and international students earned 15.
College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Agricultural & Horticultural Plant Breeding Schools ranking, including 2 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks agricultural & horticultural plant breeding schools within 2 states. In all, 6 colleges offer agricultural & horticultural plant breeding programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Agricultural & Horticultural Plant Breeding Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common agricultural & horticultural plant breeding credential is the doctorate: 24 of the 42 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to agricultural & horticultural plant breeding call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Active Learning, and for knowledge of Biology, English Language and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long an agricultural & horticultural plant breeding degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 6 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 12 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 24 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to agricultural & horticultural plant breeding, at 41.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 41.9% |
| Master’s degree | 19.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 18.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 9.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.8% |
| First professional degree | 1.8% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Agricultural & Horticultural Plant Breeding, with an average median salary of $63,245; the strongest outlook belongs to Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, at 4.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Animal Husbandry Professor, Agriculture Teacher, Agricultural Engineering Technology Instructor and Agricultural Economics Professor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to agricultural & horticultural plant breeding, at 297,433.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | 172,528 | 3.7% |
Agricultural & Horticultural Plant Breeding 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 same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to agricultural & horticultural plant breeding, with a median salary of $66,903.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $59,587 |
Agricultural & Horticultural Plant Breeding has 6 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 3,468 degrees a year; the largest are Agronomy and Crop Science (1,387), Horticultural Science (883) and Plant Sciences, General (758). Browse all Agriculture majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related 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 |
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