by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Agricultural Engineering covers Agricultural Engineering. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Mathematical And Scientific Principles To The Design, Development And Operational Evaluation Of Systems, Equipment And Facilities For Production, Processing, Storage, Handling, Distribution And Use Of Food, Feed, And Fiber. Includes Applications To Aquaculture, Forestry, Human And Natural Resources. Examples: [Bioprocessing Engineering], [Food Engineering], [Soil Engineering]. Read on to learn the essential details every agricultural engineering student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering agricultural engineering programs.
Nationwide, agricultural engineering is a widely-pursued major, with 1,090 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Agricultural Engineering Schools ranking analyzes these 37 schools to determine the best overall colleges for agricultural engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of agricultural engineering programs later in this article.
Programs in Agricultural Engineering emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations agricultural engineering graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a agricultural engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a agricultural engineering major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several agricultural engineering 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 | 3 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 761 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 205 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 121 |
People currently working in careers related to agricultural engineering tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 39.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 19.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 12.5% |
| Master’s degree | 12.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 11.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.5% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in agricultural engineering careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in agricultural engineering opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to agricultural engineering.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to agricultural engineering.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
| Agricultural Engineers | 101,667 | 13.7% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of agricultural engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $65,329 |
| 4 years | $74,666 |
| 5 years | $84,503 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for agricultural engineering graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers agricultural engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,889 |
| Agricultural Engineers | $77,743 |
With 37 different agricultural engineering programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased agricultural engineering school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
