by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Agriculture explores Agriculture, General. A Program That Focuses On The General Principles And Practice Of Agricultural Research And Production And That May Prepare Individuals To Apply This Knowledge To The Solution Of Practical Agricultural Problems. Includes Instruction In Basic Animal, Plant, And Soil Science; Animal Husbandry And Plant Cultivation; Soil Conservation; And Agricultural Operations Such As Farming, Ranching, And Agricultural Business. Read on to learn the important information every agriculture student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering agriculture programs.
Across the country, agriculture draws strong interest, with 3,276 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Agriculture Schools ranking analyzes these 151 schools to determine the best overall colleges for agriculture students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of agriculture programs later in this article.
Coursework for Agriculture emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations agriculture graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a agriculture program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a agriculture major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several agriculture 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 | 113 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 859 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,903 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 395 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 5 |
People currently working in careers related to agriculture tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 25.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 22.0% |
| Master’s degree | 13.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 9.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.8% |
| Some college courses | 1.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.5% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in agriculture careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in agriculture prepares you for many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to agriculture.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to agriculture.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | 172,528 | 3.7% |
| Precision Agriculture Technicians | 167,331 | 6.9% |
| Agricultural Technicians | 142,810 | 8.4% |
| Animal Scientists | 77,353 | -1.4% |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | 76,219 | -4.2% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of agriculture graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $42,537 |
| 4 years | $46,139 |
| 5 years | $53,130 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for agriculture graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers agriculture grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Animal Scientists | $93,823 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $59,587 |
| Precision Agriculture Technicians | $56,932 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $55,930 |
| Agricultural Technicians | $44,022 |
With 151 different agriculture programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased agriculture school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
