by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Agricultural & Horticultural Plant Breeding covers Agricultural And Horticultural Plant Breeding. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Genetics And Genetic Engineering To The Improvement Of Agricultural Plant Health, The Development Of New Plant Varieties, And The Selective Improvement Of Agricultural Plant Populations. Includes Instruction In Genetics, Genetic Engineering, Population Genetics, Agronomy, Plant Protection, And Biotechnology. Read on to learn the key facts every agricultural & horticultural plant breeding student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering agricultural & horticultural plant breeding programs.
Nationwide, agricultural & horticultural plant breeding is a widely-pursued major, with 39 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Agricultural & Horticultural Plant Breeding Schools ranking analyzes these 5 schools to determine the best overall colleges for agricultural & horticultural plant breeding students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of agricultural & horticultural plant breeding programs later in this article.
Programs in Agricultural & Horticultural Plant Breeding build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations agricultural & horticultural plant breeding graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a agricultural & horticultural plant breeding program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a agricultural & horticultural plant breeding major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several agricultural & horticultural plant breeding 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 16 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 20 |
People currently working in careers related to agricultural & horticultural plant breeding tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 41.9% |
| Master’s degree | 19.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 18.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 9.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.3% |
| First professional degree | 1.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.8% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in agricultural & horticultural plant breeding careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in agricultural & horticultural plant breeding prepares you for many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to agricultural & horticultural plant breeding.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to agricultural & horticultural plant breeding.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | 172,528 | 3.7% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of agricultural & horticultural plant breeding graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $45,321 |
| 4 years | $49,331 |
| 5 years | $56,395 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for agricultural & horticultural plant breeding graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers agricultural & horticultural plant breeding grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $59,587 |
With 5 different agricultural & horticultural plant breeding programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased agricultural & horticultural plant breeding school rankings to help you.
Those considering agricultural & horticultural plant breeding, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Agronomy and Crop Science | 1,201 |
| Horticultural Science | 903 |
| Plant Sciences, General | 692 |
| Plant Protection and Integrated Pest Management | 166 |
| Range Science and Management | 153 |
| Plant Sciences, Other | 107 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
