Best institutions to study Greenhouse Operations and Management
A program that prepares individuals to produce, store, and deliver plant species in controlled indoor environments for wholesale, commercial, research, or other purposes.
18 U.S. institutions graduated 133 Greenhouse Operations and Management students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 01.0604, a specialization of Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services (CIP 01.06), and leads most directly to the Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers occupation (BLS SOC 11-9013).
About Greenhouse Operations and Management programs
A program that prepares individuals to produce, store, and deliver plant species in controlled indoor environments for wholesale, commercial, research, or other purposes. Includes instruction in applicable principles of plant science; climate, irrigation, and nutrition control equipment operation and maintenance; facilities management; inventory control; safety procedures; and personnel supervision.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Greenhouse Operations and Management program prepares individuals for careers in producing, storing, and delivering plant species in controlled indoor environments. This program is ideal for those interested in agricultural science and horticulture, focusing on wholesale, commercial, and research applications. Students learn to manage nurseries and apply advanced techniques in plant care and facility management. This program falls under the broader category of Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services, making it suitable for aspiring agricultural managers and horticulturalists. With a blend of practical skills and theoretical knowledge, graduates are equipped to tackle challenges in greenhouse operations and contribute to the agricultural industry.
Students in the Greenhouse Operations and Management program gain essential skills in plant science, climate control, irrigation, and nutrition management. Coursework includes training in facilities management, inventory control, and safety procedures, ensuring graduates are well-prepared for the complexities of greenhouse operations.
Credentials awarded
What Greenhouse Operations and Management graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree49 graduates / yr · 7 institutions37%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years45 graduates / yr · 5 institutions34%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year39 graduates / yr · 10 institutions29%
Graduates over time
Greenhouse Operations and Management completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 55 |
| 2013 | 62 |
| 2014 | 78 |
| 2015 | 83 |
| 2016 | 93 |
| 2017 | 73 |
| 2018 | 62 |
| 2019 | 59 |
| 2020 | 76 |
| 2021 | 77 |
| 2022 | 75 |
| 2023 | 105 |
| 2024 | 126 |
| 2025 | 133 |
Top 18 institutions for Greenhouse Operations and Management, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane Community College Spokane, WAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 33 | 33% | — | — |
| 2 | City Colleges of Chicago - Olive - Harvey College Chicago, ILPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 12 | 21% | — | — |
| 3 | Santa Fe Community College Santa Fe, NMPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 12 | 23% | — | — |
| 4 | Sinclair Community College Dayton, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 9 | 41% | — | — |
| 5 | Central Lakes College - Brainerd Brainerd, MNPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 8 | 53% | — | — |
| 6 | Piedmont Technical College Greenwood, SCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 33% | — | — |
| 7 | Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WIPublicAssociate's | 8 | 51% | — | — |
| 8 | Cuyahoga Community College District Cleveland, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 31% | — | — |
| 9 | Joliet Junior College Joliet, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 21% | — | — |
| 10 | Kishwaukee College Malta, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 45% | — | — |
| 11 | Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MNPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 42% | — | — |
| 12 | Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute Wooster, OHPublicAssociate's | 5 | 43% | — | $34,190 |
| 13 | Front Range Community College Westminster, COPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 35% | — | $28,703 |
| 14 | Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WIPublicAssociate's | 4 | 65% | — | — |
| 15 | Caribbean University - Vega Baja Vega Baja, PRPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 4 | 50% | $6,310 | — |
| 16 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 68% | — | — |
| 17 | College of DuPage Glen Ellyn, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 25% | — | — |
| 18 | Kent State University at Salem Salem, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 31% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services field (CIP 01.06) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 10 states & territories
Where Greenhouse Operations and Management graduates come from. Each state links to all Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 1 | 33 | Spokane Community College33 / yr |
| Illinois | 4 | 24 | City Colleges of Chicago - Olive - Harvey College12 / yr |
| Ohio | 4 | 21 | Sinclair Community College9 / yr |
| Minnesota | 2 | 13 | Central Lakes College - Brainerd8 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 2 | 12 | Gateway Technical College8 / yr |
| New Mexico | 1 | 12 | Santa Fe Community College12 / yr |
| South Carolina | 1 | 8 | Piedmont Technical College8 / yr |
| Colorado | 1 | 4 | Front Range Community College4 / yr |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | 4 | Caribbean University - Vega Baja4 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 2 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-9013, Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Greenhouse Operations and Management program can pursue careers as Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, among other roles. While the job outlook reflects a decline of 1.3%, there are approximately 85,500 annual openings in the field. The median wage for related occupations is $87,980, with a typical education requirement of a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 01.0604
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managersprimary SOC 11-9013 | $89,900 | -1.3% Decline | ~85,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers SOC 37-3011 | $39,150 | +3.6% About as fast as average | ~158,200 | No formal educational credential |
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers SOC 37-1012 | $58,430 | +2.3% About as fast as average | ~23,200 | High school diploma or equivalent |
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers SOC 45-1011 | $59,320 | +2.5% About as fast as average | ~8,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1041 | $98,700 | +4.1% About as fast as average | ~800 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Greenhouse Operations and Management programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Collect and record growth, production, and environmental data.
- Manage nurseries that grow horticultural plants for sale to trade or retail customers, for display or exhibition, or for research.
- Direct and monitor trapping and spawning of fish, egg incubation, and fry rearing, applying knowledge of management and fish culturing techniques.
- Direct and monitor the transfer of mature fish to lakes, ponds, streams, or commercial tanks.
- Determine how to allocate resources and to respond to unanticipated problems, such as insect infestation, drought, and fire.
- Determine plant growing conditions, such as greenhouses, hydroponics, or natural settings, and set planting and care schedules.
Tools and technology used
Other Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services specializations
The 9 other 6-digit CIP codes under Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services (CIP 01.06).
- Applied Horticulture/CIP 01.0601
Horticulture Operations 2,248 graduates / yr141 institutions - Landscaping and GroundskeepingCIP 01.0605966 graduates / yr82 institutions
- Turf and Turfgrass ManagementCIP 01.0607385 graduates / yr35 institutions
- Plant Nursery Operations and ManagementCIP 01.0606156 graduates / yr26 institutions
- Floriculture/CIP 01.0608
Floristry Operations and Management 119 graduates / yr19 institutions - Applied Horticulture/CIP 01.0699
Horticultural Business Services partial data95 graduates / yr9 institutions - Ornamental HorticultureCIP 01.060394 graduates / yr15 institutions
- Urban and Community HorticultureCIP 01.0610partial data26 graduates / yr5 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes 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.
See all Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services programs →
Common questions
What types of degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn an Associate's degree, an award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years, or an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
Core skills include critical thinking, active listening, monitoring, and knowledge in administration, biology, and production processing.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
Graduates can work as agricultural managers, landscaping workers, or supervisors in related fields.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 1.3%, with around 85,500 annual openings available.
What is the CIP code for Greenhouse Operations and Management?+
Greenhouse Operations and Management is CIP 01.0604 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services (CIP 01.06). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to produce, store, and deliver plant species in controlled indoor environments for wholesale, commercial, research, or other purposes. Includes instruction in applicable principles of plant science; climate, irrigation, and nutrition control equipment operation and maintenance; facilities management; inventory control; safety procedures; and personnel supervision.
How many institutions offer Greenhouse Operations and Management programs?+
18 U.S. institutions reported Greenhouse Operations and Management graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 10 states & territories, awarding 133 credentials in the year. That is 3.2% of all Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services graduates.
How much do Greenhouse Operations and Management graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers occupation, which Greenhouse Operations and Management most directly leads to, pays a median of $89,900 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services field report median earnings of $34,190 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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