by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 25 U.S. colleges awarded 177 degrees and certificates in Plant Pathology/Phytopathology. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 46% of graduates. College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Plant Pathology/Phytopathology 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.
A major in Plant Pathology/Phytopathology covers Plant Pathology/phytopathology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Plant Diseases And Plant Health, And The Development Of Disease Control Mechanisms. Includes Instruction In Plant Anatomy And Physiology, Pathogenesis, Molecular Plant Virology, Molecular Genetics, Bacterial Epidemiology, Causal Agent Identification, Host/agent Interactions, Disease Resistance And Response Mechanisms, Developing Plant Disease Treatments, Disease Prevention, And Disease Physiology And Control.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, plant pathology/phytopathology is a popular field of study, with 177 degrees awarded annually. 25 colleges award plant pathology/phytopathology degrees, an average of 7 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 18.
By level, the 177 awards include 15 bachelor’s degrees, 81 master’s degrees and 81 doctorates.
Women earned 50% of plant pathology/phytopathology degrees and certificates in the latest year (89 of 177). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (68) and Hispanic or Latino (16), and international students earned 77.
College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Plant Pathology/Phytopathology Schools ranking, including 1 for master’s degrees and 1 for doctorates. It also ranks plant pathology/phytopathology schools within 2 states. In all, 25 colleges offer plant pathology/phytopathology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Plant Pathology/Phytopathology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common plant pathology/phytopathology credential is the master’s degree: 81 of the 177 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to plant pathology/phytopathology 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.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a plant pathology/phytopathology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 15 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 81 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 81 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to plant pathology/phytopathology, at 32.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 32.2% |
| Master’s degree | 18.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 18.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 15.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.2% |
| Some college courses | 2.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
| First professional degree | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
10 occupations are related to Plant Pathology/Phytopathology, 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 Coordinator, Clinical Project Manager, Clinical Trials Manager and Research Scientist.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to plant pathology/phytopathology, 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% |
Plant Pathology/Phytopathology 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 plant pathology/phytopathology 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 |
Plant Pathology/Phytopathology has 4 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 650 degrees a year; the largest are Botany/Plant Biology (566), Botany/Plant Biology, Other (64) and Plant Molecular Biology (13). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Botany/Plant Biology | 566 |
| Botany/Plant Biology, Other | 64 |
| Plant Molecular Biology | 13 |
| Plant Physiology | 7 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
