Plant Sciences: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Plant Sciences is a comprehensive academic field dedicated to advancing the scientific understanding of plant life and its applications in agriculture and food systems. This program equips students with foundational and advanced knowledge in the biology, genetics, and environmental interactions of plants, preparing them for impactful roles in sustainable crop development and agricultural innovation.
- Plant Biology and Physiology: Explores the internal processes and structural functions of plants, including photosynthesis, nutrient uptake, and growth regulation.
- Plant Breeding and Genetics: Focuses on the development of improved plant varieties through selective breeding, molecular techniques, and genetic modification.
- Crop Production Systems: Examines field and controlled-environment methods for cultivating high-yield, resilient crops under diverse environmental conditions.
- Soil-Plant Interactions: Investigates the dynamic relationship between soil composition, microbial communities, and plant health and productivity.
- Post-Harvest Processing and Handling: Covers techniques for preserving plant quality, minimizing losses, and preparing agricultural products for market distribution.
- Sustainable Agriculture Practices: Integrates ecological principles into farming systems to promote environmental stewardship, resource efficiency, and long-term land viability.
Plant Sciences Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Plant Sciences Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Plant Sciences degrees, including Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary and Soil and Plant Scientists. 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 85,340 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 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists 19-1013 | $71,410 | $45,320 - $131,440 | 16,600 | $34.33 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers 45-1011 | $59,330 | $39,610 - $90,840 | 29,530 | $28.53 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators 25-9021 | $58,120 | $36,780 - $85,230 | 10,260 | $27.94 |
| Agricultural Technicians 19-4012 | $46,790 | $32,860 - $69,010 | 14,340 | $22.49 |
Plant Sciences Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $51,565 in New Hampshire to $100,820 in District of Columbia—a 96% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, California, and Maryland. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 85,340 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 Plant Sciences by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 42 institutions offering Plant Sciences 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 Plant Sciences is found at University of Missouri (Mizzou), Columbia (49 graduates), University of Florida (UF) (46 graduates), Montana State University (MSU) (46 graduates), The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (42 graduates), and Pennsylvania State University, Main Campus (40 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 692 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
49 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Bachelor's
Residency
Other Award
|
46 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| Montana State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
46 | Bozeman, Montana | Public | montana.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
42 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
40 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
35 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
31 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Utah State University (USU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
31 | Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
| Cornell University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
27 | Ithaca, New York | Private | cornell.edu |
| Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Cape Girardeau, Missouri | Public | semo.edu |
| SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology (SUNY Cobleskill) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Cobleskill, New York | Public | cobleskill.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Bachelor's
|
23 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| Clemson University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
22 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| Arkansas State University (A-State) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Jonesboro, Arkansas | Public | astate.edu |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Public | lsu.edu |
| Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Public | mtsu.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
15 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
13 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) |
Other Award
|
13 | California, Pennsylvania | Public | pennwest.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
12 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
12 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| University of California (UCSC) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Santa Cruz, California | Public | ucsc.edu |
| University of Idaho (U of I) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | Moscow, Idaho | Public | uidaho.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Master's
|
9 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
9 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| Mercer County Community College (MCCC) |
Associate's
|
8 | West Windsor, New Jersey | Public | mccc.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Crookston, Minnesota | Public | crk.umn.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Columbia-Greene Community College (CGCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
6 | Hudson, New York | Public | sunycgcc.edu |
| Dordt University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Sioux Center, Iowa | Private | dordt.edu |
| University of Vermont (UVM) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Burlington, Vermont | Public | uvm.edu |
| University of Mount Olive (UMO) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Mount Olive, North Carolina | Private | umo.edu |
| Cuyahoga Community College District (Tri-C) |
Other Award
|
3 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | tri-c.edu |
| University of Wyoming (UW) |
Master's
|
3 | Laramie, Wyoming | Public | uwyo.edu |
| University of Maine (UMaine) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Orono, Maine | Public | umaine.edu |
| Northern Wyoming Community College District (NWCCD) |
Associate's
|
2 | Sheridan, Wyoming | Public | sheridan.edu |
| Tuskegee University (TU) |
Master's
|
1 | Tuskegee, Alabama | Private | tuskegee.edu |
| Southern Illinois University |
Master's
|
1 | Carbondale, Illinois | Public | siu.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Middletown, Pennsylvania | Public | harrisburg.psu.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Plant Sciences programs
How much can I earn with a Plant Sciences degree?
Salaries for Plant Sciences 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 District of Columbia average $100,820 compared to $51,565 in New Hampshire. Approximately 85,340 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 Plant Sciences programs?
Currently 42 accredited institutions offer Plant Sciences degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Missouri (Mizzou), Columbia (49 graduates), University of Florida (UF) (46 graduates), and Montana State University (MSU) (46 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 Plant Sciences growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 424 in 2010 to a peak of 706 in 2020, before declining slightly to 692 in 2023-24. This represents a 63% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, 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 Plant Sciences degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, and Soil and Plant Scientists. Related occupations employ approximately 85,340 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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