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.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying plant sciences schools.
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 California. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a public institution. Early-career plant sciences graduates from California State University Fresno make a median of around $78,715 per year.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying plant sciences schools. Located 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.
University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying plant sciences schools. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a public institution. Students who complete the plant sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,102.
A rank of #4 makes California State University Chico one of the highest-paying schools for plant sciences. California State University Chico is a public school located in the city of Chico. After graduating, plant sciences degree recipients from California State University Chico typically earn about $70,548 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in plant sciences will find them at California State Polytechnic University Pomona, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public institution. Plant Sciences graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of about $51,269 a year early in their careers.
Humboldt State University landed the #6 spot for plant sciences salaries this year. Set in the town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a public institution. Plant Sciences graduates of Humboldt State University earn a median of about $50,661 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Davis ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying plant sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a public institution. Early-career plant sciences graduates from University Of California Davis make a median of around $43,873 per year.
The ranking above is published 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 · 7 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.
