Best institutions to study Plant Pathology/Phytopathology
A program that focuses on the scientific study of plant diseases and plant health, and the development of disease control mechanisms.
25 U.S. institutions graduated 176 Plant Pathology/Phytopathology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 26.0305, a specialization of Botany/Plant Biology (CIP 26.03), and leads most directly to the Soil and Plant Scientists occupation (BLS SOC 19-1013).
About Plant Pathology/Phytopathology programs
A program that focuses on the scientific study of plant diseases and plant health, and the development of disease control mechanisms. Includes instruction in plant anatomy and physiology, pathogenesis, molecular plant virology, molecular genetics, bacterial epidemiology, causal agent identification, host/agent interactions, disease resistance and response mechanisms, developing plant disease treatments, disease prevention, and disease physiology and control.
See also: 01.1101 - Plant Sciences, General.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Plant Pathology/Phytopathology program focuses on the scientific study of plant diseases and health, aiming to develop effective disease control mechanisms. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding plant biology and the factors affecting plant health, including disease resistance and treatment development. It combines theoretical knowledge with practical applications in the field of biological and biomedical sciences.
Students will gain expertise in plant anatomy and physiology, pathogenesis, molecular genetics, and disease prevention. Coursework emphasizes critical thinking, active learning, and scientific methods, equipping graduates with the skills necessary to address complex plant health issues.
Credentials awarded
What Plant Pathology/Phytopathology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree81 graduates / yr · 22 institutions46%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship81 graduates / yr · 19 institutions46%
- Bachelor's degree14 graduates / yr · 3 institutions8.0%
Graduates over time
Plant Pathology/Phytopathology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 159 |
| 2013 | 154 |
| 2014 | 172 |
| 2015 | 155 |
| 2016 | 155 |
| 2017 | 197 |
| 2018 | 166 |
| 2019 | 166 |
| 2020 | 174 |
| 2021 | 174 |
| 2022 | 158 |
| 2023 | 150 |
| 2024 | 150 |
| 2025 | 176 |
Top 25 institutions for Plant Pathology/Phytopathology, 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 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 18 | 88% | — | — |
| 2 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicDoctoralMaster's | 13 | 91% | — | — |
| 3 | North Dakota State University - Main Campus Fargo, NDPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 13 | 64% | — | — |
| 4 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VAPublicDoctoral | 13 | 86% | — | — |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 13 | 90% | — | — |
| 6 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 9 | 90% | — | — |
| 7 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MIPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 9 | 81% | — | — |
| 8 | Washington State University Pullman, WAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 9 | 60% | — | — |
| 9 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 8 | 69% | — | — |
| 10 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralMaster's | 8 | 95% | $17,613 | — |
| 11 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NCPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 8 | 85% | — | $33,009 |
| 12 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 6 | 86% | — | — |
| 13 | University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HIPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 6 | 64% | — | — |
| 14 | New Mexico State University - Main Campus Las Cruces, NMPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 6 | 55% | — | — |
| 15 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 6 | 86% | — | — |
| 16 | University of California - Riverside Riverside, CAPublicDoctoral | 5 | 76% | — | — |
| 17 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NEPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 5 | 67% | — | — |
| 18 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicDoctoralMaster's | 4 | 84% | — | — |
| 19 | Iowa State University Ames, IAPublicMaster's | 3 | 75% | — | $34,442 |
| 20 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicDoctoralMaster's | 3 | 85% | — | — |
| 21 | Montana State University Bozeman, MTPublicMaster's | 3 | 57% | — | — |
| 22 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicMaster's | 2 | 68% | — | — |
| 23 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, ARPublicMaster's | 2 | 71% | — | — |
| 24 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KSPublicMaster's | 2 | 71% | — | — |
| 25 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KYPublicDoctoral | 2 | 71% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Botany/Plant Biology field (CIP 26.03) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 24 states
Where Plant Pathology/Phytopathology graduates come from. Each state links to all Botany/Plant Biology programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1013, Soil and Plant Scientists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as Soil and Plant Scientists, with a promising job outlook of 5.4% growth and approximately 1,700 annual openings. The median wage for this occupation is $71,410, and a typical education requirement is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 26.0305
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Soil and Plant Scientistsprimary SOC 19-1013 | $78,850 | +5.4% Faster than average | ~1,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Natural Sciences Managers SOC 11-9121 | $167,220 | +3.7% About as fast as average | ~8,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1042 | $84,620 | +7.3% Faster than average | ~5,400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Biological Scientists, All Other SOC 19-1029 | $98,920 | +1.2% Little or no change | ~4,800 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Plant Pathology/Phytopathology 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
- Communicate research or project results to other professionals or the public or teach related courses, seminars, or workshops.
- Develop methods of conserving or managing soil that can be applied by farmers or forestry companies.
- Provide information or recommendations to farmers or other landowners regarding ways in which they can best use land, promote plant growth, or avoid or correct problems such as erosion.
- Conduct experiments to develop new or improved varieties of field crops, focusing on characteristics such as yield, quality, disease resistance, nutritional value, or adaptation to specific soils or climates.
- Investigate soil problems or poor water quality to determine sources and effects.
- Investigate responses of soils to specific management practices to determine the use capabilities of soils and the effects of alternative practices on soil productivity.
Tools and technology used
Other Botany/Plant Biology specializations
The 4 other 6-digit CIP codes under Botany/Plant Biology (CIP 26.03).
Common questions
What is Plant Pathology/Phytopathology?+
It is a program that studies plant diseases and health, focusing on disease control mechanisms.
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor's degree in Plant Pathology/Phytopathology.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, science, communication, and active learning.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a Soil and Plant Scientist or in related fields, with a strong job outlook.
What is the CIP code for Plant Pathology/Phytopathology?+
Plant Pathology/Phytopathology is CIP 26.0305 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Botany/Plant Biology (CIP 26.03). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the scientific study of plant diseases and plant health, and the development of disease control mechanisms. Includes instruction in plant anatomy and physiology, pathogenesis, molecular plant virology, molecular genetics, bacterial epidemiology, causal agent identification, host/agent interactions, disease resistance and response mechanisms, developing plant disease treatments, disease prevention, and disease physiology and control.
How many institutions offer Plant Pathology/Phytopathology programs?+
25 U.S. institutions reported Plant Pathology/Phytopathology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 24 states, awarding 176 credentials in the year. That is 22.0% of all Botany/Plant Biology graduates.
How much do Plant Pathology/Phytopathology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Soil and Plant Scientists occupation, which Plant Pathology/Phytopathology most directly leads to, pays a median of $78,850 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Botany/Plant Biology field report median earnings of $34,442 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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