Best institutions to study Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding
A program that focuses on the application of genetics and genetic engineering to the improvement of agricultural plant health, the development of new plant varieties, and the selective improvement of agricultural plant populations.
6 U.S. institutions graduated 42 Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 01.1104, a specialization of Plant Sciences (CIP 01.11), and leads most directly to the Soil and Plant Scientists occupation (BLS SOC 19-1013).
About Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding programs
A program that focuses on the application of genetics and genetic engineering to the improvement of agricultural plant health, the development of new plant varieties, and the selective improvement of agricultural plant populations. Includes instruction in genetics, genetic engineering, population genetics, agronomy, plant protection, and biotechnology.
See also: 26.0805 - Plant Genetics.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding program, part of the Plant Sciences field, focuses on applying genetics and genetic engineering to enhance agricultural plant health and develop new plant varieties. This program is ideal for students interested in improving agricultural practices and plant populations through scientific research and innovation.
Students will gain knowledge in genetics, agronomy, biotechnology, and plant protection. Core skills include critical thinking, active learning, and effective communication, preparing graduates to tackle real-world challenges in plant breeding and agricultural science.
Credentials awarded
What Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship24 graduates / yr · 5 institutions57%
- Master's degree12 graduates / yr · 3 institutions29%
- Bachelor's degree6 graduates / yr · 1 institution14%
Graduates over time
Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 55 |
| 2013 | 47 |
| 2014 | 25 |
| 2015 | 45 |
| 2016 | 52 |
| 2017 | 48 |
| 2018 | 59 |
| 2019 | 47 |
| 2020 | 59 |
| 2021 | 54 |
| 2022 | 40 |
| 2023 | 43 |
| 2024 | 39 |
| 2025 | 42 |
Top 6 institutions for Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding, 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 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 10 | 90% | — | $40,794 |
| 2 | Iowa State University Ames, IAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 10 | 75% | — | $49,393 |
| 3 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicDoctoralMaster's | 7 | 84% | — | $45,163 |
| 4 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 6 | 95% | $17,613 | $32,236 |
| 5 | Washington State University Pullman, WAPublicBachelor's | 6 | 60% | — | $47,531 |
| 6 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicDoctoral | 3 | 91% | — | $36,372 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Plant Sciences field (CIP 01.11) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 6 states
Where Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding graduates come from. Each state links to all Plant Sciences programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 1 | 10 | University of Georgia10 / yr |
| Iowa | 1 | 10 | Iowa State University10 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 7 | Texas A&M University - College Station7 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 6 | Cornell University6 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 6 | Washington State University6 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 3 | University of Florida3 / yr |
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 or Agricultural Sciences Teachers. The job outlook for related occupations is faster than average, with an expected growth rate of 5.4% and approximately 1,700 annual openings. The median wage for these roles is $71,410, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 01.1104
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 |
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1041 | $98,700 | +4.1% About as fast as average | ~800 | Doctoral or professional 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 Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding 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 Plant Sciences specializations
The 6 other 6-digit CIP codes under Plant Sciences (CIP 01.11).
- Agronomy and Crop ScienceCIP 01.11021,367 graduates / yr65 institutions
- Horticultural ScienceCIP 01.1103875 graduates / yr49 institutions
- Plant SciencesCIP 01.1101753 graduates / yr43 institutions
- Plant Protection and Integrated Pest ManagementCIP 01.1105196 graduates / yr17 institutions
- Range Science and ManagementCIP 01.1106137 graduates / yr19 institutions
- Plant SciencesCIP 01.1199partial data104 graduates / yr7 institutions
Common questions
What degrees are offered in this program?+
The program offers Doctor's, Master's, and Bachelor's degrees.
How many colleges in the U.S. offer this program?+
There are six colleges in the U.S. that offer this program.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in science, critical thinking, writing, and communication.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with 1,700 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding?+
Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding is CIP 01.1104 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Plant Sciences (CIP 01.11). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the application of genetics and genetic engineering to the improvement of agricultural plant health, the development of new plant varieties, and the selective improvement of agricultural plant populations. Includes instruction in genetics, genetic engineering, population genetics, agronomy, plant protection, and biotechnology.
How many institutions offer Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding programs?+
6 U.S. institutions reported Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 6 states, awarding 42 credentials in the year. That is 1.2% of all Plant Sciences graduates.
How much do Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Soil and Plant Scientists occupation, which Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding most directly leads to, pays a median of $78,850 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Plant Sciences field report median earnings of $45,163 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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