by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Urban and Community Horticulture involves the study of A Program That Focuses On Principles And Techniques For The Production Of Horticultural Crops In An Urban Environment. Includes Instruction In Ecology, Environmental Sustainability, Food Production Systems, And Plant And Soil Sciences. Read on to learn the essential details every urban and community horticulture student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering urban and community horticulture programs.
In the U.S., urban and community horticulture is a widely-pursued major, with 26 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Urban and Community Horticulture Schools ranking analyzes these 4 schools to determine the best overall colleges for urban and community horticulture students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of urban and community horticulture programs later in this article.
Studies in Urban and Community Horticulture develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations urban and community horticulture graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a urban and community horticulture program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a urban and community horticulture major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several urban and community 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 | 6 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 10 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 10 |
People currently working in careers related to urban and community horticulture tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 70.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 14.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 3.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 3.7% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in urban and community horticulture careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in urban and community horticulture opens doors to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to urban and community horticulture.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to urban and community horticulture.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Farm and Home Management Educators | 1,304,119 | 14.0% |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 231,384 | 14.7% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of urban and community horticulture graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 urban and community horticulture graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers urban and community horticulture grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | $84,680 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $55,950 |
With 4 different urban and community horticulture programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased urban and community horticulture school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in urban and community horticulture, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
