by our College Data Analytics TeamAre you interested in farming, ranching or another agricultural field? Would you find it fulfilling to manage your own farm, raise livestock, grow crops or manage an agricultural business?
While it's true that a major in agricultural economics and business will include classes related to agricultural science, there is a lot more to it than that. Many students will aspire to go into their own business, and classes will include business management, economics, human resource management, finance, planning, marketing, retail and much more.
Concentrations in this major include such fields as Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Farm and Ranch Management, Farm Supplies Retail & Wholesaling and Agricultural Business Technology among others. Make sure your concentration of interest is available at the college you choose.
A degree in Agricultural Economics & Business explores Agricultural Business And Management. Continue reading for the key facts every agricultural economics & business major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering agricultural economics & business programs.
Nationwide, agricultural economics & business is a popular field of study, with 8,612 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Agricultural Economics & Business Schools ranking analyzes these 342 schools to determine the best overall colleges for agricultural economics & business students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of agricultural economics & business programs later in this article.
Studies in Agricultural Economics & Business build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations agricultural economics & business graduates commonly enter.
Many people are attracted to this field because they have a passion for farming, producing food from the land and working outdoors. Depending on your role in the organization, this field may require strenuous physical labor and may not follow a traditional schedule of a 40-hour work week. Many people in this field are self-employed. Some are hired as managers for larger companies. Not only does this field require extensive knowledge of farming, whether crops or livestock, it also requires strong business skills. Farmers and Agricultural managers will often have a hand in multiple areas, including managing payroll and taxes, hiring employees, determining sales opportunities, marketing their product and planning the future of the business.
This field will require a strong science background, business training and good communication skills. This is a varied and exciting job for those with a driving interest in the growing, producing, selling and marketing of food.
Work experience is an important aspect to finding a job in this field. Students who are interested in pursuing this major should find opportunities to get first-hand experience through a summer job, internship, Co-op or work abroad program.
The skill set developed in a agricultural economics & business program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a agricultural economics & business major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several agricultural economics & business degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 578 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,807 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4,916 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,280 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 31 |
People currently working in careers related to agricultural economics & business tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 26.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 21.2% |
| Master’s degree | 14.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 14.1% |
| Some college courses | 7.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.5% |
| First professional degree | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in agricultural economics & business careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in agricultural economics and business provides students with a broad set of skills. Students would be well poised to run their own farm or business, or work as a manager in an agricultural field. Students will also have the ability to specialize in areas of particular interest to them.
A degree in agricultural economics & business can lead to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to agricultural economics & business.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to agricultural economics & business.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 1,904,234 | -0.4% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 1,332,640 | 6.0% |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | 1,304,119 | 14.0% |
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | 830,747 | 2.9% |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products | 526,798 | 6.9% |
| Computer User Support Specialists | 428,265 | 11.0% |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 231,384 | 14.7% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of agricultural economics & business graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $49,730 |
| 4 years | $57,738 |
| 5 years | $66,345 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for agricultural economics & business graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers agricultural economics & business grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products | $109,813 |
| Environmental Economists | $86,726 |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | $84,680 |
| Economists | $73,611 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $71,530 |
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | $69,831 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $55,950 |
With 342 different agricultural economics & business programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased agricultural economics & business school rankings to help you.
Students interested in agricultural economics & business, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | 9,051 |
| Animal Sciences | 8,295 |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | 4,164 |
| Veterinary Medicine | 3,756 |
| Agricultural Production Operations | 3,608 |
| Agriculture, General | 3,276 |
| Plant Sciences | 3,261 |
| Food Science and Technology | 2,269 |
| Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services | 1,424 |
| Agricultural Mechanization | 1,378 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
