by our College Data Analytics Team
[Plant Sciences](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/plant-sciences/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a plant sciences degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 51 schools to find where plant sciences graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose plant sciences graduates go on to earn the most.
California State University Fresno tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying plant sciences schools in the United States. California State University Fresno is a public school located in the city of Fresno. After graduating, plant sciences degree recipients from California State University Fresno typically earn about $78,715 annually.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying plant sciences schools. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. Plant Sciences graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of about $74,094 a year early in their careers.
South Dakota State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in plant sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a public institution. After graduating, plant sciences degree recipients from South Dakota State University typically earn about $67,485 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of California Santa Cruz earned it the #4 place for plant sciences. University Of California Santa Cruz is a public school located in the city of Santa Cruz. Early-career plant sciences graduates from University Of California Santa Cruz make a median of around $61,102 per year.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Minnesota Crookston one of the highest-paying schools for plant sciences. University Of Minnesota Crookston is a public school located in the town of Crookston. Early-career plant sciences graduates from University Of Minnesota Crookston make a median of around $62,594 per year.
Delaware Valley College placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for plant sciences. Set in the suburb of Doylestown, Delaware Valley College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career plant sciences graduates from Delaware Valley College make a median of around $58,557 per year.
Kansas State University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for plant sciences. Kansas State University is a public school located in the city of Manhattan. Early-career plant sciences graduates from Kansas State University make a median of around $61,678 per year.
California State University Chico came in at #8 for plant sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a public institution. Students who complete the plant sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $70,548.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville earned the #9 position for plant sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a public institution. After graduating, plant sciences degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Platteville typically earn about $63,694 annually.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying plant sciences schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public school located in the city of Champaign. Plant Sciences graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $67,313 a year early in their careers.
Southeast Missouri State University placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for plant sciences. Southeast Missouri State University is a public school located in the city of Cape Girardeau. After graduating, plant sciences degree recipients from Southeast Missouri State University typically earn about $59,143 annually.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #12 for plant sciences graduate earnings this year. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public school located in the city of Lincoln. Students who complete the plant sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,512.
Northwest Missouri State University placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for plant sciences. Set in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a public institution. Students who complete the plant sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,315.
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying plant sciences schools. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. After graduating, plant sciences degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia typically earn about $58,941 annually.
Iowa State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying plant sciences schools. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a public institution. Early-career plant sciences graduates from Iowa State University make a median of around $53,958 per year.
University Of Wisconsin River Falls came in at #16 for plant sciences graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a public institution. Plant Sciences graduates of University Of Wisconsin River Falls earn a median of about $53,374 a year early in their careers.
Arkansas State University Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying plant sciences schools. Set in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a public institution. Plant Sciences graduates of Arkansas State University Main Campus earn a median of about $49,310 a year early in their careers.
University Of Idaho ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying plant sciences schools. Located in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a public institution. Early-career plant sciences graduates from University Of Idaho make a median of around $55,865 per year.
North Dakota State University Main Campus came in at #19 for plant sciences graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the plant sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,048.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona landed the #20 spot for plant sciences salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public institution. Early-career plant sciences graduates from California State Polytechnic University Pomona make a median of around $51,269 per year.
Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill came in at #21 for plant sciences graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Cobleskill, Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill is a public institution. After graduating, plant sciences degree recipients from Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill typically earn about $47,637 annually.
Washington State University landed the #22 spot for plant sciences salaries this year. Washington State University is a public school located in the town of Pullman. After graduating, plant sciences degree recipients from Washington State University typically earn about $47,531 annually.
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for plant sciences. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career plant sciences graduates from Ohio State University Main Campus make a median of around $53,324 per year.
Humboldt State University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying plant sciences schools. Set in the town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a public institution. Early-career plant sciences graduates from Humboldt State University make a median of around $50,661 per year.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #25 position for plant sciences graduate earnings this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public school located in the city of Raleigh. Early-career plant sciences graduates from North Carolina State University At Raleigh make a median of around $53,543 per year.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning plant sciences graduates:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Plant Sciences rankings across degree levels:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries plant sciences graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 51 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
