by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Agricultural Economics explores Agricultural Economics. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Economics To The Analysis Of Resource Allocation, Productivity, Investment, And Trends In The Agricultural Sector, Both Domestically And Internationally. Includes Instruction In Economics And Related Subfields As Well As Applicable Agricultural Fields. Examples: [Agroeconomics]. Continue reading for the key facts every agricultural economics major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering agricultural economics programs.
Nationwide, agricultural economics is a popular field of study, with 1,768 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Agricultural Economics Schools ranking analyzes these 42 schools to determine the best overall colleges for agricultural economics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of agricultural economics programs later in this article.
Studies in Agricultural Economics develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations agricultural economics graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a agricultural economics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a agricultural economics major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several agricultural economics 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 | 3 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 26 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,446 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 263 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 30 |
People currently working in careers related to agricultural economics tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 71.0% |
| Master’s degree | 12.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 6.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 6.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 3.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in agricultural economics careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying agricultural economics opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to agricultural economics.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to agricultural economics.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | 830,747 | 2.9% |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
| Environmental Economists | 77,620 | 8.5% |
| Economists | 38,399 | 11.4% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of agricultural economics 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 graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers agricultural economics grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Environmental Economists | $86,726 |
| Economists | $73,611 |
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | $69,831 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
With 42 different agricultural economics programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased agricultural economics school rankings to help you.
Those considering agricultural economics, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
