Best colleges for Plant Sciences in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo, California State University - Fresno and California State Polytechnic University - Pomona are the top bachelor's Plant Sciences programs in California by graduate earnings. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $63,129, College Scorecard. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo, California State University - Fresno and University of California-Davis award the most Plant Sciences degrees in California: 76, 72 and 59 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 15 California colleges offer Plant Sciences and award 352 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Plant Sciences program focuses on the study of plants, their growth, reproduction, and evolution, encompassing a wide range of topics within agricultural, animal, and veterinary sciences. This program is ideal for students interested…
Top 6 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $63,129 | 76 | 86% | — | $16,666 |
| 2 | California State University - Fresno Fresno Public · Bachelor's degree | $60,443 | 72 | 57% | — | $13,000 |
| 3 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,152 | 36 | 68% | — | $13,500 |
| 4 | California State University - Chico Chico Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,944 | 36 | 63% | — | $15,000 |
| 5 | University of California-Davis Davis Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,873 | 59 | 86% | — | — |
| 6 | California State Polytechnic University - Humboldt Arcata Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $44,038 | 9 | 49% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Plant Sciences degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public | 76 | $63,129 |
| 2 | California State University - Fresno Fresno Public | 72 | $60,443 |
| 3 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 59 | $43,873 |
| 4 | California State University - Monterey Bay Seaside Public | 43 | Not reported |
| 5 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public | 36 | $46,152 |
| 6 | California State University - Chico Chico Public | 36 | $43,944 |
| 7 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public | 12 | Not reported |
| 8 | California State Polytechnic University - Humboldt Arcata Public | 9 | $44,038 |
| 9 | Mt San Antonio College Walnut Public | 2 | Not reported |
| 10 | Butte College Oroville Public | 1 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 5 California colleges offering Plant Sciences
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shasta College | Redding | Public | 2 |
| Bakersfield College | Bakersfield | Public | 1 |
| University of California-Berkeley | Berkeley | Public | 1 |
| Ventura College | Ventura | Public | 1 |
| Coalinga College | Coalinga | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Soil and Plant Scientists (SOC 19-1013).
Top skills
What Soil and Plant Scientists earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Plant Sciences programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Plant Sciences degrees?+
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo (76 graduates a year), California State University - Fresno (72 graduates a year) and University of California-Davis (59 graduates a year) award the most Plant Sciences degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 15 California colleges offer Plant Sciences.
What is the best college for Plant Sciences in California?+
By graduate earnings, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo leads among bachelor's Plant Sciences programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $63,129, College Scorecard. California State University - Fresno and California State Polytechnic University - Pomona follow. By degrees awarded, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is the largest, with 76 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Plant Sciences program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo tops the list at $63,129. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Soil and Plant Scientists earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Soil and Plant Scientists in California is $99,260 (median $91,930), across about 1,440 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Plant Sciences program?+
The Plant Sciences program focuses on the study of plants, their growth, reproduction, and evolution, encompassing a wide range of topics within agricultural, animal, and veterinary sciences. This program is ideal for students interested…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, speaking, science, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Soil and Plant Scientists?+
The national job outlook is about +5.4% growth with around 1,700 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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