Horticultural Science: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Horticultural Science is a rigorous academic discipline centered on the scientific study and advanced management of plant cultivation for ornamental, agricultural, and landscape applications. It integrates biological, environmental, and technological principles to optimize plant growth, productivity, and sustainability across diverse horticultural systems.
- Plant Breeding and Genetics: Explores the development of new plant varieties through selective breeding, genetic modification, and molecular techniques to enhance traits such as disease resistance, yield, and aesthetic appeal.
- Horticultural Physiology: Investigates the internal biological processes of plants, including photosynthesis, flowering, dormancy, and stress responses, to improve growth efficiency and resilience.
- Production Systems and Crop Management: Focuses on the design and implementation of controlled and field-based systems for growing fruits, vegetables, ornamental flowers, and nursery stock with precision and sustainability.
- Postharvest Technology: Addresses the science of maintaining quality, freshness, and shelf life of harvested plant products through proper handling, storage, and packaging techniques.
- Landscape and Nursery Crop Cultivation: Examines the principles of designing, establishing, and maintaining ornamental landscapes and nursery operations using sustainable and ecologically sound practices.
- Specialized Crop Science: Provides in-depth study of specific plant groups, such as citrus, ornamental trees, and specialty vegetables, including their unique growth requirements and management needs.
Horticultural Science Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Horticultural Science Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Horticultural 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 41,470 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 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators 25-9021 | $58,120 | $36,780 - $85,230 | 10,260 | $27.94 |
Horticultural Science Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $57,230 in Hawaii to $100,820 in District of Columbia—a 76% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, California, and Idaho. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 41,470 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 Horticultural Science by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 50 institutions offering Horticultural 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 Horticultural Science is found at Colorado State University (CSU), Fort Collins (70 graduates), North Carolina State University (NC State), Raleigh (60 graduates), Oregon State University (OSU) (56 graduates), Iowa State University (ISU) (49 graduates), and University of Florida (UF) (44 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 903 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
70 | Fort Collins, Colorado | Public | colostate.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
60 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
56 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
49 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
44 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| SUNY Morrisville (SUNY Morrisville) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
44 | Morrisville, New York | Public | morrisville.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
43 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
40 | Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
33 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
29 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
25 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
25 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
24 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| Connecticut State Community College (CT State) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
22 | Hartford, Connecticut | Public | ctstate.edu |
| Clemson University |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPRM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
18 | Mayaguez, Puerto Rico | Public | uprm.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
16 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of Idaho (U of I) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Moscow, Idaho | Public | uidaho.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| Mississippi State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Mississippi State, Mississippi | Public | msstate.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
15 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| North Dakota State University (NDSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
14 | Fargo, North Dakota | Public | ndsu.edu |
| New Mexico State University (NMSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13 | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Public | nmsu.edu |
| Cornell University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
13 | Ithaca, New York | Private | cornell.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
Master's
|
11 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | River Falls, Wisconsin | Public | uwrf.edu |
| Delaware Valley University (DelVal) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
10 | Doylestown, Pennsylvania | Private | delval.edu |
| Temple University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
10 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| Fort Valley State University (FVSU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Fort Valley, Georgia | Public | fvsu.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Master's
|
8 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute |
Associate's
|
8 | Wooster, Ohio | Public | ati.osu.edu |
| Utah State University (USU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Associate's
|
7 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
7 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Master's
|
6 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| College of the Ozarks (C of O) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Point Lookout, Missouri | Private | cofo.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Master's
|
6 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| Heartland Community College (HCC ) |
Other Award
|
4 | Normal, Illinois | Public | heartland.edu |
| Eastern Iowa Community College District (EICC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Davenport, Iowa | Public | eicc.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNL) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
3 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | unl.edu |
| Bergen Community College (BCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Paramus, New Jersey | Public | bergen.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Platteville, Wisconsin | Public | uwplatt.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Crookston, Minnesota | Public | crk.umn.edu |
| Missouri State University (MSU‑WP) |
Other Award
|
1 | West Plains, Missouri | Public | wp.missouristate.edu |
| University of Vermont (UVM) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Burlington, Vermont | Public | uvm.edu |
| Athens Technical College (Athens Tech) |
Other Award
|
1 | Athens, Georgia | Public | athenstech.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Horticultural Science programs
How much can I earn with a Horticultural Science degree?
Salaries for Horticultural 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 $57,230 in Hawaii. Approximately 41,470 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 Horticultural Science programs?
Currently 50 accredited institutions offer Horticultural Science degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Colorado State University (CSU), Fort Collins (70 graduates), North Carolina State University (NC State), Raleigh (60 graduates), and Oregon State University (OSU) (56 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 Horticultural Science growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 868 in 2010 to 903 in 2023-24. This represents a 4% 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 Horticultural 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 41,470 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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