by our College Data Analytics TeamCan't decide between a career in communications or farming? Don't worry, you don't have to. A major in Agricultural Public Services allows you to follow your passion for news, broadcast, teaching, or communications while still being involved in agriculture. As part of a major in Agriculture Public Services you will take classes in advertising, news writing, broadcast, photojournalism, and editing while also learning about agriculture through classes such as animal and plant science, agribusiness, agriculture economics, and biochemistry.
Maybe you don't want to go into news or broadcast? Along with the option to specialize in Agricultural Communication or Journalism, this major also offers the option to specialize Agricultural and Extension Education Services.
A major in Agricultural Public Services involves the study of Agricultural Public Services. Read on to learn the important information every agricultural public services major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering agricultural public services programs.
Across the country, agricultural public services is a popular field of study, with 975 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Agricultural Public Services Schools ranking analyzes these 40 schools to determine the best overall colleges for agricultural public services students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of agricultural public services programs later in this article.
Coursework for Agricultural Public Services develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations agricultural public services graduates commonly enter.
People drawn to this career often have a passion for both communications and farming. Professionals who choose to go into journalism are required to communicate daily with the general public about varying agricultural topics. It is necessary to have the skills to effectively explain and report scientific information so the average person can understand it. This major also suits someone who has strong interpersonal skills. You will be communicating daily with clients, media, farmers, or the general public, so you must be comfortable speaking and working closely with others. Strong writing skills are also a must.
Depending on the type of job you go into, the average workday can vary. News can happen at any time, so depending on your role in the organization, you may not work the typical 40-hour week. Other public services jobs are closer to the typical workweek, but can frequently have long days.
Internships are the best way to prepare for a career in Agricultural Public Services. This gives students the opportunity to gain experience in reporting news or providing consulting and educational services. Journalism and communications recruiters prefer job prospects to have previous experience within the field before being hired.
Skills built by a agricultural public services program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a agricultural public services major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several agricultural public services 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 13 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 648 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 287 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 27 |
People currently working in careers related to agricultural public services tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 54.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 21.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 7.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 2.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.6% |
| Some college courses | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in agricultural public services careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
As an Agricultural Public Services graduate, you have the ability to work for both farming media outlets and non-specialized outlets. Depending on the type of media classes you take, you may find a career in broadcast, newspapers, magazines, television, and radio. Some Agricultural Public Services majors decide to work in an advertising or public relations office or provide referral, consulting, and educational services to others within agribusiness.
Studying agricultural public services prepares you for a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to agricultural public services.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to agricultural public services.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Farm and Home Management Educators | 1,304,119 | 14.0% |
| Audio and Video Technicians | 360,660 | 6.8% |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | 92,155 | -0.2% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of agricultural public services graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $45,101 |
| 4 years | $50,243 |
| 5 years | $55,891 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for agricultural public services graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers agricultural public services grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $74,101 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $73,086 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $55,950 |
With 40 different agricultural public services programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased agricultural public services school rankings to help you.
Those considering agricultural public services, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Communication/Journalism | 537 |
| Agricultural and Extension Education Services | 365 |
| Agricultural Public Services, Other | 73 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | 9,051 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | 8,612 |
| 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 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
