by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Botany involves the study of Botany/plant Biology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Plants, Related Microbial Organisms, And Plant Habitats And Ecosystem Relations. Includes Instruction In Plant Anatomy And Structure, Phytochemistry, Cytology, Plant Genetics, Plant Morphology And Physiology, Plant Ecology, Plant Taxonomy And Systematics, Paleobotany, And Applications Of Biophysics And Molecular Biology. Read on to learn the essential details every botany student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering botany programs.
Nationwide, botany draws strong interest, with 538 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Botany Schools ranking analyzes these 39 schools to determine the best overall colleges for botany students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of botany programs later in this article.
Programs in Botany develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations botany graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a botany program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a botany major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several botany 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 334 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 91 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 111 |
People currently working in careers related to botany tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 32.2% |
| Master’s degree | 18.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 18.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 15.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.2% |
| Some college courses | 2.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
| First professional degree | 0.5% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in botany careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in botany prepares you for a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to botany.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to botany.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | 172,528 | 3.7% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of botany graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,663 |
| 4 years | $39,154 |
| 5 years | $38,098 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for botany graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers botany grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $59,587 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
With 39 different botany programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased botany school rankings to help you.
Those considering botany, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Plant Pathology/Phytopathology | 151 |
| Botany/Plant Biology, Other | 47 |
| Plant Physiology | 15 |
| Plant Molecular Biology | 12 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
