by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 56 U.S. colleges awarded 827 degrees and certificates in Botany/Plant Biology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 46% of graduates. College Factual ranks 23 schools in its 2027 Best Botany/Plant Biology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $32,082 one year after completing, rising to $52,330 after four years.
Do you love learning about plants and how things grow? There are millions of plant varieties growing on our green earth. Major in Botany / Plant Biology to study these plants. You will learn how they function, what they look like, how they are related, where they grow, how they have evolved, and how people use plants.
The many plants on our earth serve vital functions for human survival. For starters, we need plants for energy and for oxygen. These powerful and beautiful organisms are also used to create many of the remedies and medicines we use today. Plants are so powerful they can affect climate, the water cycle, and our everyday life. As a Botany Major you get to immerse yourself in this incredible world.
Courses that you will come across in this major include: biochemistry, field ecology, genetics, microbiology, photosynthesis, the study of algae, plant anatomy, plant physiology, plant evolution, plant taxonomy, and the study of ferns.
Concentrations in botany include: Botany/Plant Biology, Plant Pathology, Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology.
A degree in Botany/Plant Biology involves the study of Botany/plant Biology.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., botany/plant biology is a popular field of study, with 827 degrees awarded annually. 56 colleges award botany/plant biology degrees, an average of 15 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 56.
By level, the 827 awards include 6 certificates, 6 associate degrees, 379 bachelor’s degrees, 197 master’s degrees and 239 doctorates.
Women earned 61% of botany/plant biology degrees and certificates in the latest year (502 of 827). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (502) and Hispanic or Latino (80), and international students earned 133.
College Factual ranks 23 schools in its 2027 Best Botany/Plant Biology Schools ranking, including 13 for bachelor’s degrees, 3 for master’s degrees and 8 for doctorates. It also ranks botany/plant biology schools within 12 states. In all, 56 colleges offer botany/plant biology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Botany/Plant Biology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common botany/plant biology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 379 of the 827 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to botany/plant biology call most for Reading Comprehension, Writing and Speaking, and for knowledge of Biology, English Language and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
If you like to hike, garden or camp, it could be an indication that you will enjoy this major. Students should have a love for nature and the environment. Botany will require field work where you will observe plants in their natural habitat.
Classes will include both lectures and labs. Lab work will help reinforce what you learn during lectures. Students will learn how to completely break down the biological systems of a particular plant. This will provide you the ability to learn plant anatomy, organization of their cells and plant organs. Your classes will require you to write lab reports, so you will need strong writing skills. You will also take exams with short answer questions.
Students should be comfortable working on group projects, as well as spend many hours on their own doing research in a lab. We suggest forming study groups to work through difficult problems. Don't be afraid to speak to your professors; they are here to help you succeed. You will work through real world problems with your professors, such as the extinction of certain plants and the invasion of others and how we can change it.
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How long a botany/plant biology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 6 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 6 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 379 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 197 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 239 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to botany/plant biology, at 31.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 31.2% |
| Master’s degree | 19.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 19.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 16.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.0% |
| Some college courses | 2.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
10 occupations are related to Botany/Plant Biology, with an average median salary of $89,822; the strongest outlook belongs to Clinical Research Coordinators, at 10.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Research Scientist, Scientist, Clinical Trials Manager and Clinical Project Manager.
A major in Botany/Plant Science provides graduates with a broad set of skills they can use in a variety of careers. Graduates can become marine or freshwater biologists, or work on farms or in a tropical forest developing new medicines. Graduates also find work in museums, botanical gardens or arboretums. Other positions include workers for the U.S. Forest Service. This degree will allow you work in many different fields because it is very diverse. Some botanists will earn their Ph.D., however that is not necessary unless you want to conduct research or teach at a college. Those with advanced degrees are often able to obtain higher-paying positions.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to botany/plant biology, at 542,888.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | 172,528 | 3.7% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
Botany/Plant Biology graduates earn a median $32,082 one year after completing their program, $52,330 after four years and $38,098 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,082 |
| 4 years | $52,330 |
| 5 years | $38,098 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to botany/plant biology is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $59,587 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
Botany/Plant Biology includes 5 concentrations that together award 827 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Botany/Plant Biology (566), Plant Pathology/Phytopathology (177) and Botany/Plant Biology, Other (64). It has 14 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 186,276 degrees a year; the largest are Biology, General (103,797), Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (14,729) and Neurobiology and Neurosciences (13,720). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Botany/Plant Biology | 566 |
| Plant Pathology/Phytopathology | 177 |
| Botany/Plant Biology, Other | 64 |
| Plant Molecular Biology | 13 |
| Plant Physiology | 7 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biology, General | 103,797 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 14,729 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 13,720 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 12,732 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 9,697 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 6,673 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | 4,879 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 4,738 |
| Biotechnology | 4,423 |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 4,228 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
