by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 36 U.S. colleges awarded 1,096 degrees and certificates in Agricultural Engineering. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 67% of graduates. College Factual ranks 23 schools in its 2027 Best Agricultural Engineering Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $65,329 one year after completing, rising to $85,037 after four years.
Studying Agricultural Engineering covers Agricultural Engineering. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Mathematical And Scientific Principles To The Design, Development And Operational Evaluation Of Systems, Equipment And Facilities For Production, Processing, Storage, Handling, Distribution And Use Of Food, Feed, And Fiber. Includes Applications To Aquaculture, Forestry, Human And Natural Resources. Examples: [Bioprocessing Engineering], [Food Engineering], [Soil Engineering].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, agricultural engineering is a widely-pursued major, with 1,096 degrees awarded annually. 36 colleges award agricultural engineering degrees, an average of 30 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 136.
By level, the 1,096 awards include 9 associate degrees, 729 bachelor’s degrees, 231 master’s degrees and 127 doctorates.
Women earned 41% of agricultural engineering degrees and certificates in the latest year (448 of 1,096). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (654) and Asian (90), and international students earned 173.
College Factual ranks 23 schools in its 2027 Best Agricultural Engineering Schools ranking, including 20 for bachelor’s degrees, 8 for master’s degrees and 3 for doctorates. It also ranks agricultural engineering schools within 21 states. In all, 36 colleges offer agricultural engineering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Agricultural Engineering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common agricultural engineering credential is the bachelor’s degree: 729 of the 1,096 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to agricultural engineering call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Engineering and Technology, Mathematics and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an agricultural engineering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 9 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 729 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 231 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 127 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to agricultural engineering, at 39.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 39.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 19.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 12.5% |
| Master’s degree | 12.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 11.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.5% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Agricultural Engineering, with an average median salary of $87,043; the strongest outlook belongs to Agricultural Engineers, at 13.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Ship Construction Teacher, Highway Engineering Teacher, Environmental Engineering Professor and Ceramic Engineering Professor.
The occupation related to agricultural engineering with the most projected jobs is Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,297,204.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
| Agricultural Engineers | 101,667 | 13.7% |
Agricultural Engineering graduates earn a median $65,329 one year after completing their program, $85,037 after four years and $84,503 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $65,329 |
| 4 years | $85,037 |
| 5 years | $84,503 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to agricultural engineering is Architectural and Engineering Managers, with a median salary of $101,277.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,889 |
| Agricultural Engineers | $77,743 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
