Best colleges for International Agriculture
A program that focuses on the application of agricultural management and scientific principles to the problems of global food production and distribution, and to the study of the agricultural systems of other countries.
10 U.S. institutions graduated 148 International Agriculture students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 01.0701, a specialization of International Agriculture (CIP 01.07), and leads most directly to the Food Scientists and Technologists occupation (BLS SOC 19-1012).
About International Agriculture programs
A program that focuses on the application of agricultural management and scientific principles to the problems of global food production and distribution, and to the study of the agricultural systems of other countries. Includes instruction in agricultural economics; comparative agricultural systems; international agribusiness and law; third-world development studies and economic development; and global applications of climate, soil, water resources, ecological and environmental studies, and animal and plant sciences.
See also: 45.0604 - Development Economics and International Development.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The International Agriculture program focuses on applying agricultural management and scientific principles to address global food production and distribution challenges. It is designed for students interested in understanding agricultural systems across different countries and the complexities involved in international agribusiness and development.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in agricultural economics, comparative agricultural systems, and the global applications of environmental studies. Core skills developed include critical thinking, active learning, and effective communication, all essential for addressing contemporary agricultural issues.
Credentials awarded
What International Agriculture graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year80 graduates / yr · 2 institutions54%
- Bachelor's degree27 graduates / yr · 5 institutions18%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate24 graduates / yr · 2 institutions16%
- Master's degree17 graduates / yr · 1 institution12%
Graduates over time
International Agriculture completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 65 |
| 2013 | 73 |
| 2014 | 85 |
| 2015 | 102 |
| 2016 | 115 |
| 2017 | 163 |
| 2018 | 115 |
| 2019 | 129 |
| 2020 | 147 |
| 2021 | 99 |
| 2022 | 87 |
| 2023 | 201 |
| 2024 | 177 |
| 2025 | 148 |
Top 10 institutions for International Agriculture, 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 starting salary* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MOPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 74 | 58% | — | — |
| 2 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 19 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
| 3 | Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OKPublicMaster's | 17 | 68% | — | — |
| 4 | University of California-Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor's | 15 | 86% | — | — |
| 5 | Iowa State University Ames, IAPublicBachelor's | 7 | 75% | — | $52,068 |
| 6 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 90% | — | — |
| 7 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicPost-degree cert. | 5 | 84% | — | — |
| 8 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 95% | $17,613 | — |
| 9 | Chatham University Pittsburgh, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 63% | $23,700 | — |
| 10 | College of the Ozarks Point Lookout, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 64% | $8,360 | — |
* Field starting salary (1 yr): median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader International Agriculture field (CIP 01.07) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 9 states
Where International Agriculture graduates come from. Each state links to all International Agriculture programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 2 | 75 | Missouri State University - Springfield74 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 19 | Harvard University19 / yr |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 17 | Oklahoma State University17 / yr |
| California | 1 | 15 | University of California-Davis15 / yr |
| Iowa | 1 | 7 | Iowa State University7 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 6 | University of Georgia6 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 5 | Texas A&M University - College Station5 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 2 | Cornell University2 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 2 | Chatham University2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1012, Food Scientists and Technologists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the International Agriculture program can pursue careers as Food Scientists and Technologists or Agricultural Sciences Teachers. The job outlook is promising, with a growth rate of 6.5% and approximately 1,200 annual openings, offering a median wage of $85,310 for those typically holding a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 01.0701
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Food Scientists and Technologistsprimary SOC 19-1012 | $88,720 | +6.5% Faster than average | ~1,200 | Bachelor's degree |
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 International Agriculture 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
- Inspect food processing areas to ensure compliance with government regulations and standards for sanitation, safety, quality, and waste management.
- Check raw ingredients for maturity or stability for processing, and finished products for safety, quality, and nutritional value.
- Study methods to improve aspects of foods, such as chemical composition, flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, and convenience.
- Develop food standards and production specifications, safety and sanitary regulations, and waste management and water supply specifications.
- Stay up to date on new regulations and current events regarding food science by reviewing scientific literature.
- Study the structure and composition of food or the changes foods undergo in storage and processing.
Tools and technology used
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn an Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year, a Bachelor's degree, a Postbaccalaureate certificate, or a Master's degree.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in active learning, critical thinking, science, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue?+
You can work as a Food Scientist or Agricultural Sciences Teacher, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a growth rate of 6.5% and about 1,200 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for International Agriculture?+
International Agriculture is CIP 01.0701 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within International Agriculture (CIP 01.07). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the application of agricultural management and scientific principles to the problems of global food production and distribution, and to the study of the agricultural systems of other countries. Includes instruction in agricultural economics; comparative agricultural systems; international agribusiness and law; third-world development studies and economic development; and global applications of climate, soil, water resources, ecological and environmental studies, and animal and plant sciences.
How many institutions offer International Agriculture programs?+
10 U.S. institutions reported International Agriculture graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 9 states, awarding 148 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all International Agriculture graduates.
How much do International Agriculture graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Food Scientists and Technologists occupation, which International Agriculture most directly leads to, pays a median of $88,720 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader International Agriculture field report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $52,068, 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. This specialization accounts for nearly all International Agriculture graduates, so its figures match the International Agriculture program page.
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