Minnesota · Plant Sciences

Best colleges for Plant Sciences in Minnesota

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, University of Minnesota-Crookston and Southwest Minnesota State University award the most Plant Sciences degrees and certificates in Minnesota: 62, 13 and 9 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 8 Minnesota colleges offer Plant Sciences and award 106 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…

Institutions
8
offering CIP 01.11
States offered
47
with a program page
Degrees / yr
106
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$35,216
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
2
College Scorecard
Median net price
—
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
55%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Soil and Plant Scientists
$88,200
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 2 institutions, 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis Public · Bachelor's degree
$35,2166285%—$15,391
2University of Minnesota-Crookston
Crookston Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$57,9151350%—$23,793

Colleges awarding the most Plant Sciences degrees in Minnesota

Top 8 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.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis Public
62$35,216
2University of Minnesota-Crookston
Crookston Public
13$57,915
3Southwest Minnesota State University
Marshall Public
9Not reported
4Riverland Community College
Austin Public
8Not reported
5Ridgewater College
Willmar Public
8Not reported
6Minnesota State University - Mankato
Mankato Public
3Not reported
7Central Lakes College - Brainerd
Brainerd Public
2Not reported
8Minnesota West Community and Technical College
Granite Falls Public
1Not reported

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Soil and Plant Scientists (SOC 19-1013).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+5.4%
Faster than average
Openings / yr (US)
~1,700
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$71,410
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionSpeakingScienceCritical ThinkingActive LearningActive Listening

What Soil and Plant Scientists earn in Minnesota

Jobs in Minnesota
750
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$88,200
median $79,610
Best-paying metro
$88,360
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI

Related careers

Conservation Scientists
$74,570 avg · 770 jobs
Soil and Plant Scientists
$88,200 avg · 750 jobs
Agricultural Technicians
$63,460 avg · 530 jobs
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
$101,980 avg · 280 jobs
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
$79,670 avg · 230 jobs
Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary
$86,940 avg · 180 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Plant Sciences programs in Minnesota.

Which Minnesota colleges award the most Plant Sciences degrees?+

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (62 graduates a year), University of Minnesota-Crookston (13 graduates a year) and Southwest Minnesota State University (9 graduates a year) award the most Plant Sciences degrees and certificates in Minnesota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 8 Minnesota colleges offer Plant Sciences.

Which Plant Sciences program in Minnesota has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities tops the list at $35,216. 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 Minnesota?+

The average annual wage for Soil and Plant Scientists in Minnesota is $88,200 (median $79,610), across about 750 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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