Best colleges for Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Lake Land College, Southwestern Illinois College and McHenry County College award the most Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services degrees and certificates in Illinois: 383, 30 and 20 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 18 Illinois colleges offer Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services and award 588 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services program focuses on the science and business aspects of horticulture, preparing students for various roles in the field. This program is ideal for those interested in working with…
Top institution, 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 | Lake Land College Mattoon Public · Certificate | $7,972 | 383 | 58% | — | $8,142 |
Colleges awarding the most Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services degrees in Illinois
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). 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 | Lake Land College Mattoon Public | 383 | $7,972 |
| 2 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville Public | 30 | Not reported |
| 3 | McHenry County College Crystal Lake Public | 20 | Not reported |
| 4 | Kankakee Community College Kankakee Public | 15 | Not reported |
| 5 | College of Lake County Grayslake Public | 15 | Not reported |
| 6 | Kishwaukee College Malta Public | 12 | Not reported |
| 7 | Illinois Central College East Peoria Public | 11 | Not reported |
| 8 | Parkland College Champaign Public | 10 | Not reported |
| 9 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public | 8 | Not reported |
| 10 | Highland Community College Freeport Public | 2 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 8 Illinois colleges offering Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn | Public | 21 |
| Joliet Junior College | Joliet | Public | 18 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College | Chicago | Public | 16 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College | Chicago | Public | 12 |
| Triton College | River Grove | Public | 11 |
| Lincoln Land Community College | Springfield | Public | 2 |
| Lewis and Clark Community College | Godfrey | Public | 1 |
| Richland Community College | Decatur | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation (SOC 37-3012).
Top skills
What Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services degrees?+
Lake Land College (383 graduates a year), Southwestern Illinois College (30 graduates a year) and McHenry County College (20 graduates a year) award the most Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services degrees and certificates in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 18 Illinois colleges offer Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services.
Which Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Lake Land College tops the list at $7,972. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation in Illinois is $48,470 (median $48,280), across about 1,040 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services program?+
The Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services program focuses on the science and business aspects of horticulture, preparing students for various roles in the field. This program is ideal for those interested in working with…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, critical thinking, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation?+
The national job outlook is about +3.8% growth with around 4,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A High school diploma or equivalent 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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