Best colleges for Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services by graduate earnings are Pennsylvania State University ($49,872), Brigham Young University ($46,439) and Texas A&M University - College Station ($41,341), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Pennsylvania State University (University Park, PA): $49,872, 34 graduates a year
- Brigham Young University (Provo, UT): $46,439, 21 graduates a year
- Texas A&M University - College Station (College Station, TX): $41,341, 73 graduates a year
- University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR): $29,241, 20 graduates a year
- Brigham Young University - Idaho (Rexburg, ID): $26,238, 63 graduates a year
Compare 226 U.S. colleges offering Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 45 states.
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,341 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 01.06 and the Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation occupation (BLS SOC).
About Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services programs
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 plants, landscapes, and horticultural operations, offering a blend of practical and theoretical knowledge essential for success in this growing industry.
Learn more about Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services →
Students in this program will develop core skills in areas such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework covers essential knowledge in customer service, biology, and management, equipping students with the tools needed for various horticultural tasks and operations.
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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 | Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,872 | 34 | 86% | — | $26,925 |
| 2 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,439 | 21 | 81% | $13,712 | — |
| 3 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,341 | 73 | 84% | — | $18,422 |
| 4 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,241 | 20 | 71% | — | — |
| 5 | Brigham Young University - Idaho Rexburg, ID Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $26,238 | 63 | 55% | $6,760 | $12,749 |
| 6 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $51,005 | 19 | 67% | — | — |
| 7 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree Online | $49,872 | 47 | 34% | — | $26,925 |
| 8 | Delaware Valley University Doylestown, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $47,375 | 12 | 56% | $25,402 | $26,000 |
| 9 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $46,289 | 6 | 67% | — | $24,998 |
| 10 | Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tifton, GA Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $44,751 | 18 | 36% | — | $25,000 |
Top 8 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Public · Certificate | $42,513 | 29 | 81% | — | $13,722 |
| 2 | Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids, IA Public · Associate degree | $35,900 | 34 | 43% | — | $11,000 |
| 3 | Front Range Community College Westminster, CO Public · Certificate | $28,703 | 43 | 35% | — | $14,000 |
| 4 | Lake Land College Mattoon, IL Public · Certificate | $7,972 | 383 | 58% | — | $8,142 |
| 5 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC Public · Associate degree Small program | $38,339 | 19 | 85% | — | $14,375 |
| 6 | Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute Wooster, OH Public · Associate degree Small program | $34,190 | 14 | 43% | — | $12,000 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PA Public · Associate degree Small program | $30,185 | 16 | 53% | — | $12,000 |
| 8 | Spartanburg Community College Spartanburg, SC Public · Associate degree | $29,260 | 43 | 28% | — | — |
Specializations within Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services
9 of the 10 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 01.06 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Applied Horticulture/CIP 01.0601
Horticulture Operations 2,248 graduates / yr141 institutions33 states - Landscaping and GroundskeepingCIP 01.0605966 graduates / yr82 institutions28 states
- Turf and Turfgrass ManagementCIP 01.0607385 graduates / yr35 institutions20 states
- Plant Nursery Operations and ManagementCIP 01.0606156 graduates / yr26 institutions7 states
- Greenhouse Operations and ManagementCIP 01.0604133 graduates / yr18 institutions10 states
- Floriculture/CIP 01.0608
Floristry Operations and Management 119 graduates / yr19 institutions10 states - Applied Horticulture/CIP 01.0699
Horticultural Business Services partial data95 graduates / yr9 institutions8 states - Ornamental HorticultureCIP 01.060394 graduates / yr15 institutions9 states
- Urban and Community HorticultureCIP 01.0610New in CIP 2020partial data26 graduates / yr5 institutions5 states
Show all 10 codes (1 with no U.S. programs reported)+
- Public Horticulture01.0609
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Offered across 45 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 37-3012, Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Applied Horticulture program can pursue careers in various horticultural sectors, with an outlook showing a growth rate of 3.8% and approximately 4,100 annual job openings. The median wage for professionals in this field is $45,200, and a high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for entry-level positions.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 01.06.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 01.06 (Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services) maps to 9 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9013 | Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers |
| 25-1041 | Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-9021 | Farm and Home Management Educators |
| 37-1012 | First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers |
| 37-3011 | Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers |
| 37-3012 | Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetationprimary |
| 41-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers |
| 45-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers |
| 45-4011 | Forest and Conservation Workers |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Mix pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides for application to trees, shrubs, lawns, or botanical crops.
- Fill sprayer tanks with water and chemicals, according to formulas.
- Lift, push, and swing nozzles, hoses, and tubes to direct spray over designated areas.
- Identify lawn or plant diseases to determine the appropriate course of treatment.
- Cover areas to specified depths with pesticides, applying knowledge of weather conditions, droplet sizes, elevation-to-distance ratios, and obstructions.
- Start motors and engage machinery, such as sprayer agitators or pumps or portable spray equipment.
Common questions
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
Graduates can work in areas such as landscaping, greenhouse management, and plant nursery operations.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows a growth rate of 3.8% with about 4,100 annual job openings.
What is the typical education required?+
Most positions require a high school diploma or equivalent.
How much do Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services graduates earn?+
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,341, College Scorecard (2019); the Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation occupation pays about $47,070 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services?+
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services maps to CIP 01.06 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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