Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science And Related Fields

Best Agriculture institutions in the US, ranked by earnings

Compare 151 U.S. colleges offering Agriculture by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 45 states.

Institutions
151
offering CIP 01.00
States offered
45
with a program page
With earnings data
44
College Scorecard
Degrees / yr
3,247
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$39,696
1 year after graduation
US pay · Agricultural Technicians
$49,680
BLS OEWS 2024

About Agriculture programs

The Agriculture program, formally known as Agriculture, General, focuses on the essential practices of cultivating soil, planting, and harvesting crops, as well as livestock production. This program is ideal for students interested in the agricultural sector, which plays a vital role in food production and sustainability. Students will explore various aspects of agriculture, including both food and non-food crops, along with related fields such as forestry and aquaculture.

Learn more about Agriculture

What you'll learn

In this program, students develop core skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and active learning. Coursework typically covers knowledge areas such as food production, biology, chemistry, and mathematics, equipping students with the necessary tools to succeed in various agricultural tasks and operations.

Top 44 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA Public · Bachelor's degree
$64,7864886%$21,903
2Texas A&M University - College Station
College Station, TX Public · Bachelor's degree
$59,6253784%$18,585
3North Dakota State University - Main Campus
Fargo, ND Public · Bachelor's degree
$55,828864%$25,000
4Cornell University
Ithaca, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$53,4658295%$17,613$15,599
5South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD Public · Bachelor's degree
$49,7817562%$20,000
6Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL Public · Bachelor's degree
$48,5096245%$18,969
7Fort Hays State University
Hays, KS Public · Bachelor's degree
$48,0484348%$20,340
8Illinois State University
Normal, IL Public · Bachelor's degree
$47,29511365%$18,750
9West Texas A & M University
Canyon, TX Public · Bachelor's degree
$45,3005455%$13,460
10Langston University
Langston, OK Public · Bachelor's degree
$45,1551117%$28,310
11Texas State University
San Marcos, TX Public · Bachelor's degree
$44,9946155%$20,699
12Warner University
Lake Wales, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$44,1541142%$22,026$22,250
13University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Lincoln, NE Public · Bachelor's degree
$43,6693867%
14California State University - Stanislaus
Turlock, CA Public · Bachelor's degree
$43,1012353%
15Dickinson State University
Dickinson, ND Public · Bachelor's degree
$42,5831351%
16University of Missouri - Columbia
Columbia, MO Public · Bachelor's degree
$42,1453675%
17Auburn University
Auburn, AL Public · Bachelor's degree
$41,6821482%$17,625
18Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Kingsville, TX Public · Bachelor's degree
$41,6463042%$22,875
19North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC Public · Bachelor's degree
$41,0842585%$19,000
20Southern Utah University
Cedar City, UT Public · Bachelor's degree
$41,0713261%
21Southern Illinois University - Carbondale
Carbondale, IL Public · Bachelor's degree
$39,700362%$18,000
22University of Delaware
Newark, DE Public · Bachelor's degree
$39,6961181%$24,372
23The University of Tennessee - Martin
Martin, TN Public · Bachelor's degree
$39,4385353%$19,500
24Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN Public · Associate degree
$39,2614740%$7,125
25Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR Public · Bachelor's degree
$39,1457970%$26,000
26Delaware State University
Dover, DE Public · Bachelor's degree
$38,8731939%$23,625
27Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY Public · Bachelor's degree
$38,8045656%$23,656
28Northwest Missouri State University
Maryville, MO Public · Bachelor's degree
$38,6782154%$18,250
29Prairie View A & M University
Prairie View, TX Public · Bachelor's degree
$38,0637543%$28,500
30McNeese State University
Lake Charles, LA Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,8874947%$19,500
31Alcorn State University
Alcorn State, MS Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,7713857%$27,000
32East Texas A&M University
Commerce, TX Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,7285143%$20,500
33Truman State University
Kirksville, MO Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,8531969%$19,500
34Missouri State University - Springfield
Springfield, MO Public · Bachelor's degree
$35,7372358%$20,625
35University of Hawaii at Hilo
Hilo, HI Public · Bachelor's degree
$35,3782048%$26,345
36Tennessee State University
Nashville, TN Public · Bachelor's degree
$34,2555634%$27,000
37Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN Public · Bachelor's degree
$33,5083058%$14,915
38North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, NC Public · Bachelor's degree
$32,3014457%$28,285
39Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN Public · Bachelor's degree
$31,9053440%$18,625
40Southern University and A & M College
Baton Rouge, LA Public · Bachelor's degree
$30,8652927%$28,250
41Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Tallahassee, FL Public · Bachelor's degree
$26,6774853%$16,750
42New Mexico State University - Main Campus
Las Cruces, NM Public · Bachelor's degree
$26,6662755%$22,993
43Berea College
Berea, KY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$25,9121058%$5,274
44University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR Public · Bachelor's degree
$18,1541249%$10,000

Offered across 45 states

The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.

StateInstitutionsMedian earningsTop institution by earnings
California7$64,786California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
North Dakota3$55,828North Dakota State University - Main Campus
New York4$53,465Cornell University
South Dakotalimited1$49,781South Dakota State University
Kansas3$48,048Fort Hays State University
Illinois8$47,295Western Illinois University
Oklahoma11$45,155Langston University
Texas20$44,994Texas A&M University - College Station
Floridalimited2$44,154Warner University
Nebraska4$43,669University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Alabamalimited1$41,682Auburn University
North Carolina3$41,084North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Utahlimited2$41,071Southern Utah University
Delawarelimited2$39,696University of Delaware
Indiana3$39,261Ivy Tech Community College
Oregon4$39,145Oregon State University
Kentucky3$38,804Western Kentucky University
Missouri9$38,678University of Missouri - Columbia
Louisiana3$37,887McNeese State University
Mississippi5$37,771Alcorn State University
Hawaiilimited1$35,378University of Hawaii at Hilo
Tennessee5$34,255The University of Tennessee - Martin
New Mexicolimited2$26,666New Mexico State University - Main Campus
Arizonalimited2
Arkansas4
Coloradolimited1
Connecticutlimited1
Georgia3
Idaholimited1
Iowa4
Mainelimited1
Maryland3
Massachusettslimited1
Michiganlimited1
Minnesota3
Nevadalimited1
New Jersey3
Ohiolimited1
Pennsylvanialimited1
Vermontlimited1
Virginia3
Washingtonlimited1
West Virginialimited2
Wisconsinlimited1
Wyominglimited2

Careers & outlook

The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-4012, Agricultural Technicians, and its national outlook.

Graduates of the Agriculture program can expect a career outlook that is about as fast as average, with an estimated growth rate of 4.3% and approximately 2,900 annual job openings. The median wage for positions in this field is around $46,790, and a typical education requirement is an Associate's degree.

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+4.3%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~2,900
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$46,790
typically Associate's degree
National employment
14,340
Agricultural Technicians
US average pay
$49,680
annual, BLS OEWS 2024
US median pay
$46,790
annual

Top-paying metros

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$64,700avg
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
$64,040avg
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$62,230avg
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
$61,860avg
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
$60,310avg

Related careers

Soil and Plant Scientists
$83,040 avg · 16,600 jobs
Food Scientists and Technologists
$92,190 avg · 14,370 jobs
Agricultural Technicians
$49,680 avg · 14,340 jobs
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
$97,790 avg · 8,700 jobs
Animal Scientists
$104,970 avg · 2,470 jobs

Skills & knowledge in Agriculture programs

From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.

Skills you'll build

Reading Comprehension
Critical Thinking
Active Listening
Monitoring
Writing
Active Learning
Speaking
Mathematics

Knowledge areas

Food Production
Biology
Chemistry
Mechanical
Mathematics
Administration and Management

What graduates do on the job

  • Prepare land for cultivated crops, orchards, or vineyards by plowing, discing, leveling, or contouring.
  • Operate farm machinery, including tractors, plows, mowers, combines, balers, sprayers, earthmoving equipment, or trucks.
  • Record data pertaining to experimentation, research, or animal care.
  • Maintain or repair agricultural facilities, equipment, or tools to ensure operational readiness, safety, and cleanliness.
  • Perform crop production duties, such as tilling, hoeing, pruning, weeding, or harvesting crops.
  • Collect animal or crop samples.

Tools & technology

Email softwareGeographic information system GIS systemsGlobal positioning system GPS softwareMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPoint

Concentrations within Agriculture

Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).

  • Agriculture, General
    CIP 01.0000

    A program that focuses on the general principles and practice of agricultural research and production and that may prepare individuals to apply this knowledge to the solution of practical agricultural

Common questions

What is the focus of the Agriculture program?+

The program focuses on cultivating soil, planting, harvesting crops, and livestock production.

What skills will I learn in this program?+

Students will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, and knowledge of food production and biology.

What is the job outlook for agriculture graduates?+

The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.3% and 2,900 annual openings.

What level of education is typically required?+

A typical education requirement for careers in agriculture is an Associate's degree.

Related programs

Other programs in the same field of study.

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