Agronomy and Crop Science: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Agronomy and Crop Science is a rigorous, research-driven field dedicated to advancing sustainable food production through the scientific understanding of crop-soil interactions. This program equips students with the expertise to optimize plant growth, enhance soil fertility, and develop resilient crop systems in response to environmental and agricultural challenges.
- Soil-Plant Interactions: Explores the complex chemical, physical, and biological processes that govern how plants absorb nutrients and water from soil environments.
- Crop Physiology and Growth: Investigates the developmental stages, metabolic functions, and environmental responses of agricultural crops throughout their life cycle.
- Plant Breeding and Genetics: Focuses on the development of improved crop varieties through genetic selection, molecular techniques, and trait enhancement for yield, disease resistance, and adaptability.
- Nutrient Management: Teaches strategies for efficient application and cycling of essential nutrients to maximize crop productivity while minimizing environmental impact.
- Sustainable Agriculture Systems: Addresses integrated approaches to crop production that balance productivity with long-term soil health, biodiversity, and ecological resilience.
Agronomy and Crop Science Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Agronomy and Crop Science Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Agronomy and Crop Science 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 |
Agronomy and Crop Science 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 Agronomy and Crop Science by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 63 institutions offering Agronomy and Crop Science 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 Agronomy and Crop Science is found at Iowa State University (ISU) (108 graduates), University of Nebraska (UNL), Lincoln (77 graduates), West Texas A & M University (WTAMU) (75 graduates), Texas Tech University (TTU) (63 graduates), and Kansas State University (K‑State) (57 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,201 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
108 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNL) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
77 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | unl.edu |
| West Texas A & M University (WTAMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
75 | Canyon, Texas | Public | wtamu.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
63 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
57 | Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
| California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) |
Bachelor's
|
49 | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | calpoly.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Other Award
|
45 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | worldcampus.psu.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
40 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
40 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| South Dakota State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
39 | Brookings, South Dakota | Public | sdstate.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Chico, California | Public | csuchico.edu |
| California State University (CSUMB) |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Seaside, California | Public | csumb.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
31 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Mississippi State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Mississippi State, Mississippi | Public | msstate.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
27 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
26 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
26 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
26 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
23 | Oglesby, Illinois | Public | ivcc.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
21 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
21 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Northwest Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Maryville, Missouri | Public | nwmissouri.edu |
| New Mexico State University (NMSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
17 | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Public | nmsu.edu |
| North Dakota State University (NDSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
17 | Fargo, North Dakota | Public | ndsu.edu |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) |
Associate's
|
17 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | cvtc.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | River Falls, Wisconsin | Public | uwrf.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Master's
|
15 | Kingsville, Texas | Public | tamuk.edu |
| University of Vermont (UVM) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Burlington, Vermont | Public | uvm.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPRM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 | Mayaguez, Puerto Rico | Public | uprm.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
13 | Appleton, Wisconsin | Public | fvtc.edu |
| Mitchell Technical College (Mitchell Tech) |
Associate's
|
11 | Mitchell, South Dakota | Public | mitchelltech.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Platteville, Wisconsin | Public | uwplatt.edu |
| Northeast Community College |
Associate's
|
9 | Norfolk, Nebraska | Public | northeast.edu |
| Sam Houston State University (SHSU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Huntsville, Texas | Public | shsu.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
7 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| Ridgewater College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Other Award
|
7 | Willmar, Minnesota | Public | ridgewater.edu |
| Cornell University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Ithaca, New York | Private | cornell.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| Riverland Community College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
6 | Austin, Minnesota | Public | riverland.edu |
| College of the Ozarks (C of O) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Point Lookout, Missouri | Private | cofo.edu |
| Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute |
Associate's
|
6 | Wooster, Ohio | Public | ati.osu.edu |
| Northcentral Technical College (NTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
6 | Wausau, Wisconsin | Public | ntc.edu |
| University of Idaho (U of I) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Moscow, Idaho | Public | uidaho.edu |
| Kishwaukee College (Kish) |
Other Award
|
5 | Malta, Illinois | Public | kish.edu |
| Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Marshall, Minnesota | Public | smsu.edu |
| Mid-State Technical College (Mid-State) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
4 | Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin | Public | mstc.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU–I) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Rexburg, Idaho | Private | byui.edu |
| Kankakee Community College (KCC) |
Other Award
|
3 | Kankakee, Illinois | Public | kcc.edu |
| Huntington University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Huntington, Indiana | Private | huntington.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| Delaware Valley University (DelVal) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Doylestown, Pennsylvania | Private | delval.edu |
| Southwest Wisconsin Technical College (Southwest Tech) |
Associate's
|
3 | Fennimore, Wisconsin | Public | swtc.edu |
| Vincennes University (VU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
2 | Vincennes, Indiana | Public | vinu.edu |
| Oklahoma Panhandle State University (OPSU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Goodwell, Oklahoma | Public | opsu.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
2 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| Indian Hills Community College (IHCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Ottumwa, Iowa | Public | indianhills.edu |
| Iowa Central Community College |
Associate's
|
1 | Fort Dodge, Iowa | Public | iowacentral.edu |
| Southwestern Community College (SWCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Creston, Iowa | Public | swcciowa.edu |
| SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology (SUNY Cobleskill) |
Associate's
|
1 | Cobleskill, New York | Public | cobleskill.edu |
| Chemeketa Community College |
Other Award
|
1 | Salem, Oregon | Public | chemeketa.edu |
| Treasure Valley Community College (TVCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Ontario, Oregon | Public | tvcc.cc |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Agronomy and Crop Science programs
How much can I earn with a Agronomy and Crop Science degree?
Salaries for Agronomy and Crop Science 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 Agronomy and Crop Science programs?
Currently 63 accredited institutions offer Agronomy and Crop Science degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Iowa State University (ISU) (108 graduates), University of Nebraska (UNL), Lincoln (77 graduates), and West Texas A & M University (WTAMU) (75 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 Agronomy and Crop Science growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 689 in 2010 to 1,201 in 2023-24. This represents a 74% 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 Agronomy and Crop Science 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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