by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Agricultural Business covers Agricultural Business And Management, General. A General Program That Focuses On Modern Business And Economic Principles Involved In The Organization, Operation, And Management Of Agricultural Enterprises. Read on to learn the key facts every agricultural business student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering agricultural business programs.
Nationwide, agricultural business draws strong interest, with 2,188 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Agricultural Business Schools ranking analyzes these 131 schools to determine the best overall colleges for agricultural business students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of agricultural business programs later in this article.
Studies in Agricultural Business build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations agricultural business graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a agricultural business program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a agricultural business major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several agricultural 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 | 77 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 600 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,110 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 400 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1 |
People currently working in careers related to agricultural business tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 49.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 24.1% |
| Master’s degree | 12.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 4.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.8% |
| Some college courses | 0.6% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in agricultural business careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying agricultural business opens doors to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to agricultural business.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to agricultural business.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 231,384 | 14.7% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | 33,611 | -0.6% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of agricultural 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 business graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers agricultural business grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | $84,680 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $36,803 |
With 131 different agricultural business programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased agricultural business school rankings to help you.
Those considering agricultural business, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations | 3,573 |
| Agricultural Economics | 1,768 |
| Farm/Farm and Ranch Management | 668 |
| Agricultural/Farm Supplies Retailing and Wholesaling | 243 |
| Agricultural Business and Management, Other | 137 |
| Agricultural Business Technology/Technician | 35 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
