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Plant & Agricultural Systems

Colleges offering this major Rankings Trends

What you'll do in college

These majors study the crops and the ground they grow in. Coursework covers plant biology, genetics, and breeding; soil chemistry and physics; agronomy, horticulture, and integrated pest management; and increasingly precision agriculture and climate-smart farming. Expect a mix of greenhouse, field, and lab work, often on university-owned research farms.

Students can specialize in turf management, viticulture, sustainable agriculture, or crop genetics. Summer jobs and internships at seed companies, research stations, and cooperative extension services are standard, and senior projects often involve running actual field trials.

What you'll do after college

Graduates become agronomists, crop consultants, plant breeders, extension agents, and researchers at seed and chemical companies like Corteva, Bayer, and Syngenta. Others go into vineyard management, golf course and sports turf management, or sustainable agriculture nonprofits.

Demand is strong as agriculture adapts to climate change and precision technology reshapes how fields are managed. Pay is moderate; advancement often means specializing (e.g., becoming a certified crop adviser) or going to graduate school for plant breeding or soil science research.

Famous graduates

  • Norman Borlaug — Nobel Peace Prize winner and father of the Green Revolution; Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from University of Minnesota
  • Luther Burbank — Pioneering American botanist and horticulturist who developed over 800 plant varieties

Selectivity vs. earnings

By acceptance rate

$58,537
924
100–85%
$55,177
2,156
85–72%
$57,861
2,159
72–47%
$56,617
920
47–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$51,008
727
400–1060
$57,727
1,760
1070–1210
$59,715
1,739
1210–1370
$55,313
730
1370–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings vs. selectivity rank

$45,275p10 $65,808p90 Arts Work College Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University Public University 1–15 Private University 1–30 Johnson & Wales University - Providence · $41,032 College of the Ozarks · $46,687 Berea College · $45,461 Warren Wilson College · $45,048 University of the South · $66,684 Dordt University · $60,631 Ferrum College · $48,693 Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University · $42,707 Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo · $65,265 Eastern New Mexico University · $47,093 Alabama A&M University · $48,736 Alcorn State University · $62,952 Cal Poly - Pomona · $46,727 Clemson University · $51,887 Delaware State University · $48,322 North Carolina A&T State University · $47,804 Southern University and A&M College · $47,640 University of Maryland, College Park · $59,788 University of California, Davis · $58,883 Auburn University · $62,983 University of Minnesota - Crookston · $65,563 University of Tennessee, Knoxville · $55,517 Ohio State University · $54,103 Texas A&M University - College Station · $64,560 Fort Valley State University · $43,912 University of Connecticut · $54,072 Virginia Tech · $61,110 Pennsylvania State University · $57,181 New Mexico State University · $42,653 Tarleton State University · $54,371 Central State University · $43,636 Illinois State University · $66,124 University of Massachusetts - Amherst · $41,436 Truman State University · $50,078 Minnesota State University, Mankato · $56,833 Arkansas State University · $57,047 Fresno State · $73,169 Kentucky State University · $44,896 SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry · $55,493 University of Hawaii at Hilo · $40,117 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities · $50,968 Oklahoma State University · $60,238 Rutgers University - New Brunswick · $50,736 University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff · $46,061 McNeese State University · $57,948 Texas Tech University · $52,029 Tennessee State University · $46,109 Texas State University · $63,295 Louisiana State University · $61,721 Louisiana Tech University · $70,285 Missouri State University - Springfield · $46,510 Morehead State University · $45,275 Murray State University · $50,155 Northwest Missouri State University · $64,163 Southern Illinois University - Carbondale · $57,656 Temple University · $34,779 Texas A&M University - Kingsville · $57,509 University of Delaware · $56,324 University of Texas Rio Grande Valley · $54,268 Western Illinois University · $58,959 Farmingdale State College · $52,753 University of Vermont · $41,827 University of Rhode Island · $47,474 Oregon State University · $50,160 University of Arkansas · $50,864 University of Idaho · $58,879 University of Tennessee, Martin · $58,584 Washington State University · $64,149 Prairie View A&M University · $47,614 University of Missouri · $63,088 Angelo State University · $53,747 Chico State · $63,307 Eastern Kentucky University · $53,981 Middle Tennessee State University · $57,768 University of New Hampshire · $46,816 Southeast Missouri State University · $64,724 Tennessee Technological University · $61,886 University of Nebraska, Lincoln · $65,808 Cal Poly - Humboldt · $55,019 Colorado State University - Fort Collins · $47,187 University of Maryland Eastern Shore · $47,864 University of California, Santa Cruz · $54,026 Stephen F. Austin State University · $56,437 University of Nevada, Reno · $53,846 Michigan State University · $54,429 Mississippi State University · $66,601 Cal State Stanislaus · $59,994 Fort Hays State University · $53,192 Iowa State University · $61,550 South Dakota State University · $61,639 University of Arizona · $59,137 University of Cincinnati · $56,475 University of Maine · $55,195 West Virginia University · $44,522 Western Kentucky University · $49,735 Northern Michigan University · $52,770 Michigan Technological University · $62,355 University of Wisconsin - River Falls · $54,855 University of Hawaii at Manoa · $40,264 University of Wisconsin - Platteville · $67,445 Northern Arizona University · $60,419 University of Kentucky · $60,783 University of Montana · $49,155 University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point · $62,886 Southwest Minnesota State University · $54,061 North Dakota State University · $78,989 Utah State University · $61,898 Kansas State University · $72,106 Sul Ross State University · $45,183 University of Wyoming · $56,377 Virginia State University · $47,766 Austin Peay State University · $47,953 Sam Houston State University · $67,093 West Texas A&M University · $59,221 Dickinson State University · $57,840 Montana State University · $46,806 Cameron University · $45,865 Chadron State College · $52,519 Langston University · $52,235 New Mexico Highlands University · $50,538 University of Arkansas at Monticello · $49,188 University of Maine at Presque Isle · $50,609 Warner University · $54,986 Andrews University · $57,426 Concordia University - Nebraska · $52,684 Brigham Young University · $63,797 Morningside University · $71,450 Loyola University Chicago · $58,262 Emmanuel University · $51,237 University of Mount Olive · $55,340 Brigham Young University - Idaho · $49,248 Delaware Valley University · $59,440 Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science · $51,581 Trine University · $57,233 University of California, Berkeley · $72,032 University of Florida · $47,413 University of Georgia · $68,345 Purdue University · $67,927 North Carolina State University · $61,625 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · $69,471 University of Wisconsin - Madison · $57,007 Cornell University · $52,216 Arts: mean $41,032 Work College: mean $45,732 Liberal Arts: mean $58,669 Public University: mean $54,827 Religious University: mean $57,159 Private University: mean $56,085 Public University 1–15: mean $63,403 Private University 1–30: mean $52,216 All colleges: p10 $45,275 All colleges: p90 $65,808
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Plant & Agricultural Systems 154 6,224 52% / 48% 1% $56,853 95%
Agriculture 72 1,704 41% / 59% 1% $54,926 94%
Forestry 29 778 73% / 27% 1% $60,898 97%
Horticultural Science 26 477 39% / 61% 4% $53,829 94%
Plant Science 23 419 47% / 53% 1% $54,992 93%
Agronomy and Crop Science 25 418 64% / 36% 1% $57,770 95%
Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture 19 191 38% / 62% 6% $52,131 96%
Agricultural Science 2 172 41% / 59% 1% $47,715 98%
Horticulture 11 165 44% / 56% 0% $58,846 94%
Soil Science 13 159 48% / 52% 3% $60,957 96%
Agricultural Mechanization 9 112 88% / 12% 1% $70,235 96%
Plant and Wildlife Sciences 1 111 70% / 30% 2% $61,612 90%
Forest Sciences and Biology 5 109 61% / 39% 0% $60,465 94%
Plant Protection and Integrated Pest Management 3 106 65% / 35% 1% $53,563 93%
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management 1 79 58% / 42% 1% $48,855 90%
Crop Science 1 76 39% / 61% 0% $66,873 96%
Agronomy 3 73 74% / 26% 0% $66,445 92%
Forest Management/Forest Resources Management 3 67 85% / 15% 0% $54,757 97%
Landscape Management 2 63 25% / 75% 5% $57,448 84%
Forest Biomaterials 1 49 53% / 47% 0% $73,713 97%
Forest Management 4 45 78% / 22% 0% $56,670 93%
Plant Sciences 3 45 44% / 56% 7% $59,309 100%
Range Science and Management 7 44 39% / 61% 2% $56,288 90%
Forest Resources and Conservation 1 44 57% / 43% 0% $47,879 95%
Plant Pathology 2 42 38% / 62% 0% $54,227 98%
Plant and Soil Science 1 41 49% / 51% 0% $58,144
Agroecology 1 37 43% / 57% 0% $34,331 88%
Crop and Soil Sciences 2 35 66% / 34% 3% $52,848 98%
Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations 3 33 61% / 39% 0% $54,992 92%
Turfgrass Science 3 33 91% / 9% 0% $58,793 93%
Agricultural Sciences 2 30 57% / 43% 0% $56,130 94%
Agricultural Production Operations 4 29 76% / 24% 0% $56,902 100%
Applied Horticulture/Horticultural Business Services 2 28 57% / 43% 0% $52,256 86%
Crop and Soil Science 1 24 50% / 50% 0% $51,239 90%
Range and Wildlife Management 1 24 75% / 25% 0% $54,899
Urban Forestry 3 23 43% / 57% 0% $57,401
Plant and Environmental Soil Science 1 23 78% / 22% 0% $68,843 98%
Agricultural Operations 1 20 50% / 50% 0% $77,582 100%
Crop and Weed Sciences 1 20 80% / 20% 0% $80,404 98%
Ornamental Horticulture 1 20 40% / 60% 0% $47,545 84%
Sustainable Agriculture 3 19 74% / 26% 0% $63,854 98%
Soil Chemistry and Physics 2 19 32% / 68% 0% $62,476 97%
Sustainable Food and Farming Systems 1 17 35% / 65% 0% $69,259
Agricultural Processing 1 16 94% / 6% 0% $71,450 100%
Sustainable Plant and Soil Systems 1 15 33% / 67% 0% $53,652 95%
Forest Resources Management 2 13 69% / 31% 0% $56,063 93%
Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management 1 13 54% / 46% 0% $55,997 96%
Urban Horticulture 1 13 31% / 69% 0% $41,032
Landscape Contracting 1 12 100% / 0% 0% $57,157 100%
Soil Sciences 3 11 45% / 55% 0% $56,368
Plant Nursery Operations and Management 1 11 45% / 55% 0% $63,002
Agronomy and Soils 1 10 70% / 30% 0% $62,023 94%
Rangeland Resources Science 1 9 56% / 44% 0% $44,833 94%
Landscaping and Groundskeeping 2 8 75% / 25% 0% $65,366 96%
Forest Science 1 7 43% / 57% 0% $52,799
Integrated Agriculture Technologies 1 7 0% / 100% 0% $49,367 96%
Turf and Turfgrass Management 3 6 100% / 0% 0% $65,410 95%
Crop Production 2 6 50% / 50% 0% $57,855
Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding 1 6 33% / 67% 17% $68,865 100%
Golf Course Operation and Grounds Management 1 6 100% / 0% 0% $57,233
Sustainable Plant Systems 1 6 50% / 50% 0% $43,312 94%
Forest Biology 2 5 40% / 60% 0% $53,537 94%
Forest Operations 1 5 40% / 60% 0% $63,356 100%
Turf Management and Science 1 5 100% / 0% 0% $69,583
Turfgrass Science and Management 1 4 100% / 0% 0% $54,778 93%
Integrated Science (Agriculture) 1 3 100% / 0% 0% $63,749
Food Systems 1 1 100% / 0% 0% $37,394
Forest Resources Production 1 1 0% / 100% 0% $53,590
Plant Sciences, Other 1 1 100% / 0% 100%
Turfgrass Management 1 1 100% / 0% 0% $62,181