by our College Data Analytics TeamIf you have a green thumb, you may be a great fit for Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services.
Horticulture focuses on the production and processing of shrubs, foliage, trees, and other plants. Majoring in Horticulture means you will learn everything there is to know about plants. Many of your classes will include agriculture and biological sciences. Classes will focus on plant genetics, structures, and diseases. You will also take business classes to learn the basics of administration, management, and sales.
Schools offer the ability to major in general horticulture, but you also have the opportunity to choose a specialty. Some of these concentrations include Ornamental Horticulture, Greenhouse Operations and Management, Landscaping and Grounds keeping, Plant Nursery Operations and Management, Turf and Turf grass Management, Floriculture/Floristry Operations and Management.
A major in Horticulture covers Applied Horticulture And Horticultural Business Services. Continue reading for the key facts every horticulture student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering horticulture programs.
In the U.S., horticulture is a popular field of study, with 4,164 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Horticulture Schools ranking analyzes these 228 schools to determine the best overall colleges for horticulture students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of horticulture programs later in this article.
Coursework for Horticulture build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations horticulture graduates commonly enter.
Horticulturists arrange plants everywhere from residences and baseball fields to office buildings and golf courses. A degree in Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services will provide you with the ability to grow and maintain plants while having the ability to manipulate them through genetic mutations.
Since you will be working to sell your services, it is imperative that you have great marketing and customer service skills. You must also be extremely knowledgeable on certain types of plants, soils, and insects so you can meet customers' needs and ensure they are happy with the final result. Self-motivation and stamina are beneficial as you often do physically strenuous labor for long hours with little supervision. Typical work hours are anytime during the daylight hours causing some days to be very long.
Although it is not necessary, it would be beneficial to gain experience in this field with a summer job or internship. This will teach you the basics on how to plant and maintain areas before deciding to enter this field as a career.
Skills developed in a horticulture program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a horticulture major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several horticulture 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 | 664 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,305 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 322 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,859 |
People currently working in careers related to horticulture tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 30.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 14.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 12.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 11.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 8.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 7.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.7% |
| Some college courses | 2.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in horticulture careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
There is a wide variety of careers open to you when you major in Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services. You have the option to open your own landscaping business, become a nursery or greenhouse manager, work as a grounds keeper, or go into commercial fruit or vegetable production. Anything plant related is available to you. Plus, this is a growing career. Job opportunities are increasing, especially in areas with a warmer climate.
Majoring in horticulture opens doors to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to horticulture.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to horticulture.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Farm and Home Management Educators | 1,304,119 | 14.0% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 830,802 | 5.3% |
| Forest and Conservation Workers | 400,323 | 11.1% |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers | 276,926 | 4.4% |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 231,384 | 14.7% |
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 139,205 | -2.2% |
| Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation | 59,660 | 1.1% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of horticulture graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $37,555 |
| 4 years | $43,505 |
| 5 years | $48,599 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for horticulture graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers horticulture grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | $84,680 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $55,950 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $53,224 |
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | $43,138 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $36,803 |
| Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation | $34,037 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers | $24,378 |
With 228 different horticulture programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased horticulture school rankings to help you.
Students interested in horticulture, 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 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | 8,612 |
| Animal Sciences | 8,295 |
| 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.
