by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 43 U.S. colleges awarded 758 degrees and certificates in Plant Science, General. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 68% of graduates. College Factual ranks 21 schools in its 2027 Best Plant Science, General 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 degree in Plant Science, General covers Plant Sciences, General. A General Program That Focuses On The Scientific Principles That Underlie The Breeding, Cultivation, And Production Of Agricultural Plants, And The Production, Processing, And Distribution Of Agricultural Plant Products. Includes Instruction In The Plant Sciences, Crop Cultivation And Production, And Agricultural And Food Products Processing.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, plant science, general is a popular field of study, with 758 degrees awarded annually. 43 colleges award plant science, general degrees, an average of 18 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 61.
By level, the 758 awards include 8 associate degrees, 516 bachelor’s degrees, 142 master’s degrees and 74 doctorates.
Women earned 54% of plant science, general degrees and certificates in the latest year (407 of 758). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (523) and Hispanic or Latino (63), and international students earned 80.
College Factual ranks 21 schools in its 2027 Best Plant Science, General Schools ranking, including 19 for bachelor’s degrees, 7 for master’s degrees and 3 for doctorates. It also ranks plant science, general schools within 14 states. In all, 43 colleges offer plant science, general programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Plant Science, General Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common plant science, general credential is the bachelor’s degree: 516 of the 758 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to plant science, general call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Education and Training, Biology and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a plant science, general degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 8 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 516 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 142 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 74 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to plant science, general, at 47.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 47.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 12.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.6% |
| Some college courses | 0.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
| First professional degree | 0.4% |
Source: O*NET Online.
7 occupations are related to Plant Science, General, with an average median salary of $57,840; 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, Extension Officer and Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent.
The occupation related to plant science, general 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% |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 231,384 | 14.7% |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | 172,528 | 3.7% |
| Precision Agriculture Technicians | 167,331 | 6.9% |
| Agricultural Technicians | 142,810 | 8.4% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | 33,611 | -0.6% |
Plant Science, General 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 plant science, general, 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 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $59,587 |
| Precision Agriculture Technicians | $56,932 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $55,950 |
| Agricultural Technicians | $44,022 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $36,803 |
Plant Science, General has 6 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 2,752 degrees a year; the largest are Agronomy and Crop Science (1,387), Horticultural Science (883) and Plant Protection and Integrated Pest Management (199). 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 Protection and Integrated Pest Management | 199 |
| Range Science and Management | 137 |
| Plant Sciences, Other | 104 |
| Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding | 42 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
