by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Plant Science, General covers Plant Sciences, General. A General Program That Focuses On The Scientific Principles That Underlie The Breeding, Cultivation, And Production Of Agricultural Plants, And The Production, Processing, And Distribution Of Agricultural Plant Products. Includes Instruction In The Plant Sciences, Crop Cultivation And Production, And Agricultural And Food Products Processing. Read on to learn the key facts every plant science, general major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering plant science, general programs.
Nationwide, plant science, general is a popular field of study, with 692 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Plant Science, General Schools ranking analyzes these 42 schools to determine the best overall colleges for plant science, general students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of plant science, general programs later in this article.
Programs in Plant Science, General build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations plant science, general graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a plant science, general program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a plant science, general major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several plant science, general 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 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 10 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 483 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 121 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 64 |
People currently working in careers related to plant science, general tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 47.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 12.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.6% |
| Some college courses | 0.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
| First professional degree | 0.4% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in plant science, general careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in plant science, general prepares you for many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to plant science, general.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to plant science, general.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Farm and Home Management Educators | 1,304,119 | 14.0% |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 231,384 | 14.7% |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | 172,528 | 3.7% |
| Precision Agriculture Technicians | 167,331 | 6.9% |
| Agricultural Technicians | 142,810 | 8.4% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | 33,611 | -0.6% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of plant science, general graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 plant science, general graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers plant science, general grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | $84,680 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $59,587 |
| Precision Agriculture Technicians | $56,932 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $55,950 |
| Agricultural Technicians | $44,022 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $36,803 |
With 42 different plant science, general programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased plant science, general school rankings to help you.
Students interested in plant science, general, 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 Protection and Integrated Pest Management | 166 |
| Range Science and Management | 153 |
| Plant Sciences, Other | 107 |
| Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding | 39 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
