by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Plant Pathology/Phytopathology covers Plant Pathology/phytopathology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Plant Diseases And Plant Health, And The Development Of Disease Control Mechanisms. Includes Instruction In Plant Anatomy And Physiology, Pathogenesis, Molecular Plant Virology, Molecular Genetics, Bacterial Epidemiology, Causal Agent Identification, Host/agent Interactions, Disease Resistance And Response Mechanisms, Developing Plant Disease Treatments, Disease Prevention, And Disease Physiology And Control. Continue reading for the key facts every plant pathology/phytopathology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering plant pathology/phytopathology programs.
Across the country, plant pathology/phytopathology is a popular field of study, with 151 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Plant Pathology/Phytopathology Schools ranking analyzes these 27 schools to determine the best overall colleges for plant pathology/phytopathology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of plant pathology/phytopathology programs later in this article.
Studies in Plant Pathology/Phytopathology develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations plant pathology/phytopathology graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a plant pathology/phytopathology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a plant pathology/phytopathology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several plant pathology/phytopathology 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 | 8 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 72 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 71 |
People currently working in careers related to plant pathology/phytopathology 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 plant pathology/phytopathology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in plant pathology/phytopathology prepares you for numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to plant pathology/phytopathology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to plant pathology/phytopathology.
| 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 plant pathology/phytopathology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise 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 plant pathology/phytopathology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers plant pathology/phytopathology 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 27 different plant pathology/phytopathology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased plant pathology/phytopathology school rankings to help you.
Those considering plant pathology/phytopathology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Botany/Plant Biology | 538 |
| Botany/Plant Biology, Other | 47 |
| Plant Physiology | 15 |
| Plant Molecular Biology | 12 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
