Applied Horticulture: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Applied Horticulture prepares students to excel in the cultivation, management, and sustainable use of ornamental and functional plant systems. This program integrates scientific knowledge with hands-on practice to develop expertise in plant production, landscape maintenance, and operational efficiency within horticultural industries.
- Plant Propagation and Cultivation: Study of techniques for growing plants from seeds, cuttings, grafts, and tissue culture, emphasizing species-specific requirements and growth optimization.
- Landscape Design and Installation: Application of design principles to create functional and aesthetically pleasing outdoor spaces, including site analysis, plant selection, and construction of hardscapes and irrigation systems.
- Soil Science and Nutrient Management: Exploration of soil composition, pH balance, organic matter, and fertilization strategies to support healthy plant development and environmental sustainability.
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Use of biological, cultural, and chemical methods to monitor and control pests and diseases while minimizing environmental impact.
- Horticultural Business Operations: Training in budgeting, marketing, customer service, supply chain logistics, and regulatory compliance for greenhouses, nurseries, and landscape enterprises.
- Environmental and Sustainable Practices: Implementation of water conservation, native plant integration, and low-impact cultivation methods to promote ecological resilience and long-term landscape viability.
Applied Horticulture Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Applied Horticulture Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Applied Horticulture degrees, including Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary and Farm and Home Management Educators. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 1,092,430 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers 11-9013 | $87,980 | $51,700 - $156,530 | 5,910 | $42.30 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1041 | $86,350 | $49,080 - $160,870 | 8,700 | N/A |
| Farm and Home Management Educators 25-9021 | $58,120 | $36,780 - $85,230 | 10,260 | $27.94 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers 37-1012 | $56,170 | $39,270 - $83,080 | 124,130 | $27.01 |
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers 37-3011 | $38,090 | $29,990 - $53,900 | 943,430 | $18.31 |
Applied Horticulture Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $42,770 in Louisiana to $82,432 in California—a 93% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Maryland, and Michigan. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,092,430 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Applied Horticulture by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 99 institutions offering Applied Horticulture programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Applied Horticulture is found at Lake Land College (421 graduates), Lee College (132 graduates), Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) (66 graduates), Saint Louis Community College (STLCC) (55 graduates), and Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) (47 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,173 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Land College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
421 | Mattoon, Illinois | Public | lakelandcollege.edu |
| Lee College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
132 | Baytown, Texas | Public | lee.edu |
| Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
66 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | cpcc.edu |
| Saint Louis Community College (STLCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
55 | Bridgeton, Missouri | Public | stlcc.edu |
| Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
47 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | ccbcmd.edu |
| Front Range Community College (FRCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
39 | Westminster, Colorado | Public | frontrange.edu |
| Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
39 | Belleville, Illinois | Public | swic.edu |
| Niagara County Community College (SUNY Niagara) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
39 | Sanborn, New York | Public | niagaracc.suny.edu |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
38 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | reynolds.edu |
| College of the Desert (COD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
37 | Palm Desert, California | Public | collegeofthedesert.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
|
37 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
36 | Fayetteville, North Carolina | Public | faytechcc.edu |
| Clackamas Community College (CCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
36 | Oregon City, Oregon | Public | clackamas.edu |
| Tacoma Community College (TCC ) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
Other Award
|
36 | Tacoma, Washington | Public | tacomacc.edu |
| Gwinnett Technical College (Gwinnett Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
34 | Lawrenceville, Georgia | Public | gwinnetttech.edu |
| Forsyth Technical Community College (Forsyth Tech) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
33 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Public | forsythtech.edu |
| Brunswick Community College (BCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
28 | Bolivia, North Carolina | Public | brunswickcc.edu |
| Tarrant County College District (TCCD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
28 | Fort Worth, Texas | Public | tccd.edu |
| Carteret Community College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
27 | Morehead City, North Carolina | Public | carteret.edu |
| Saddleback College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
26 | Mission Viejo, California | Public | saddleback.edu |
| Connors State College (CSC) |
Other Award
|
25 | Warner, Oklahoma | Public | connorsstate.edu |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
24 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | cvtc.edu |
| Alamance Community College (ACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
23 | Graham, North Carolina | Public | alamancecc.edu |
| Spartanburg Community College (SCC) |
Associate's
|
23 | Spartanburg, South Carolina | Public | sccsc.edu |
| Wilkes Community College (WCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
22 | Wilkesboro, North Carolina | Public | wilkescc.edu |
| Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) |
Associate's
|
22 | Annandale, Virginia | Public | nvcc.edu |
| Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
21 | Canandaigua, New York | Public | flcc.edu |
| McHenry County College (MCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
20 | Crystal Lake, Illinois | Public | mchenry.edu |
| Gateway Technical College |
Other Award
|
20 | Kenosha, Wisconsin | Public | gtc.edu |
| Colorado State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Fort Collins, Colorado | Public | colostate.edu |
| Tidewater Community College (TCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
19 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | tcc.edu |
| Johnson County Community College (JCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
18 | Overland Park, Kansas | Public | jccc.edu |
| Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
18 | Kirkland, Washington | Public | lwtech.edu |
| Farmingdale State College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
17 | Farmingdale, New York | Public | farmingdale.edu |
| Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
16 | Flat Rock, North Carolina | Public | blueridge.edu |
| Foothill College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
15 | Los Altos Hills, California | Public | foothill.edu |
| Augusta Technical College (Augusta Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
15 | Augusta, Georgia | Public | augustatech.edu |
| Williamson College of the Trades |
Associate's
|
15 | Media, Pennsylvania | Private | williamson.edu |
| College of Western Idaho (CWI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
15 | Nampa, Idaho | Public | cwi.edu |
| Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) |
Other Award
|
14 | Warner Robins, Georgia | Public | centralgatech.edu |
| Diablo Valley College (DVC) |
Other Award
|
13 | Pleasant Hill, California | Public | dvc.edu |
| Long Beach City College (LBCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
13 | Long Beach, California | Public | lbcc.edu |
| Orange Coast College (OCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
13 | Costa Mesa, California | Public | orangecoastcollege.edu |
| Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
13 | Rome, Georgia | Public | gntc.edu |
| Central Lakes College (CLC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
13 | Brainerd, Minnesota | Public | clcmn.edu |
| Pennsylvania Institute of Technology (P.I.T.) |
Associate's
|
13 | Media, Pennsylvania | Private | pit.edu |
| Trinity Valley Community College (TVCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
13 | Athens, Texas | Public | tvcc.edu |
| Western Texas College (WTC) |
Associate's
|
13 | Snyder, Texas | Public | wtc.edu |
| Southern Crescent Technical College (SCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
12 | Griffin, Georgia | Public | sctech.edu |
| Chattahoochee Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
12 | Marietta, Georgia | Public | chattahoocheetech.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU-OKC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
12 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Public | osuokc.edu |
| Clemson University |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| Piedmont Technical College (PTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
12 | Greenwood, South Carolina | Public | ptc.edu |
| Amarillo College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
12 | Amarillo, Texas | Public | actx.edu |
| Mid-America Technology Center |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
12 | Wayne, Oklahoma | Public | matech.edu |
| Fullerton College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
11 | Fullerton, California | Public | fullcoll.edu |
| College of DuPage (COD) |
Associate's
|
11 | Glen Ellyn, Illinois | Public | cod.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Associate's
|
11 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| Trident Technical College (TTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
11 | Charleston, South Carolina | Public | tridenttech.edu |
| Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
11 | Appleton, Wisconsin | Public | fvtc.edu |
| Lanier Technical College (Lanier Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
10 | Gainesville, Georgia | Public | laniertech.edu |
| Joliet Junior College (JJC) |
Associate's
|
10 | Joliet, Illinois | Public | jjc.edu |
| Southeast Technical College (STC) |
Associate's
|
10 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota | Public | southeasttech.edu |
| Virginia Western Community College (VWCC) |
Other Award
|
10 | Roanoke, Virginia | Public | virginiawestern.edu |
| Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas (PCCUA) |
Other Award
|
9 | Helena, Arkansas | Public | pccua.edu |
| Victor Valley College (VVC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
9 | Victorville, California | Public | vvc.edu |
| Pickens Technical College (PTC) |
Other Award
|
9 | Aurora, Colorado | Public | pickenstech.org |
| Montgomery College (MC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
9 | Rockville, Maryland | Public | montgomerycollege.edu |
| North Shore Community College (NSCC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Danvers, Massachusetts | Public | northshore.edu |
| Metropolitan Community College Area (MCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
9 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | mccneb.edu |
| Southeast Community College Area (SCC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | southeast.edu |
| Mt San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
8 | Walnut, California | Public | mtsac.edu |
| College of Lake County (CLC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
8 | Grayslake, Illinois | Public | clcillinois.edu |
| University of Maine (UMaine) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Orono, Maine | Public | umaine.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Other Award
|
8 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Edmonds College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
8 | Lynnwood, Washington | Public | edmonds.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPRU) |
Associate's
|
8 | Utuado, Puerto Rico | Public | uprutuado.edu |
| Palo Alto College (PAC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
8 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | alamo.edu |
| American River College (ARC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
7 | Sacramento, California | Public | arc.losrios.edu |
| Merritt College |
Other Award
|
7 | Oakland, California | Public | merritt.edu |
| North Georgia Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
7 | Clarkesville, Georgia | Public | northgatech.edu |
| Illinois Central College (ICC) |
Associate's
|
7 | East Peoria, Illinois | Public | icc.edu |
| Chemeketa Community College |
Associate's
|
7 | Salem, Oregon | Public | chemeketa.edu |
| South Dakota State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Brookings, South Dakota | Public | sdstate.edu |
| Cosumnes River College (CRC) |
Other Award
|
6 | Sacramento, California | Public | crc.losrios.edu |
| Los Angeles Pierce College (LAPC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
6 | Woodland Hills, California | Public | lapc.edu |
| Solano Community College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
6 | Fairfield, California | Public | welcome.solano.edu |
| Kankakee Community College (KCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
6 | Kankakee, Illinois | Public | kcc.edu |
| Jones County Junior College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
6 | Ellisville, Mississippi | Public | jcjc.edu |
| Clark State College |
Associate's
|
6 | Springfield, Ohio | Public | clarkstate.edu |
| High Plains Technology Center (HPTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
6 | Woodward, Oklahoma | Public | hptc.edu |
| Virginia Highlands Community College (VHCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
6 | Abingdon, Virginia | Public | vhcc.edu |
| Cabrillo College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
5 | Aptos, California | Public | cabrillo.edu |
| Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
5 | Monterey, California | Public | mpc.edu |
| Shasta College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
5 | Redding, California | Public | shastacollege.edu |
| Triton College |
Other Award
|
5 | River Grove, Illinois | Public | triton.edu |
| Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
5 | Morganton, North Carolina | Public | wpcc.edu |
| Houston Community College (HCC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Houston, Texas | Public | hccs.edu |
| MiraCosta College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
4 | Oceanside, California | Public | miracosta.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Applied Horticulture programs
How much can I earn with a Applied Horticulture degree?
Salaries for Applied Horticulture graduates vary by role and location. Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers earn a median of $87,980 annually, while Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $86,350. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $82,432 compared to $42,770 in Louisiana. Approximately 1,092,430 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Applied Horticulture programs?
Currently 146 accredited institutions offer Applied Horticulture degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Lake Land College (421 graduates), Lee College (132 graduates), and Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) (66 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Applied Horticulture growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 2,482 in 2010 to 2,270 in 2023-24. This represents a 9% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Applied Horticulture degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, and Farm and Home Management Educators. Related occupations employ approximately 1,092,430 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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