Best institutions to study Plant Sciences
Any instructional program in plant sciences not listed above.
7 U.S. institutions graduated 104 Plant Sciences students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 01.1199, a specialization of Plant Sciences (CIP 01.11), and leads most directly to the Soil and Plant Scientists occupation (BLS SOC 19-1013).
About Plant Sciences programs
Any instructional program in plant sciences not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Plant Sciences program focuses on the study of plants, their growth, and their management within agricultural and environmental contexts. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding plant biology and applying this knowledge to solve real-world challenges in agriculture and land management. It encompasses a range of topics, preparing graduates for various roles in the field of plant sciences.
Students in the Plant Sciences program will develop core skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and scientific methods. Coursework typically includes biology, chemistry, and mathematics, equipping students with the knowledge needed to conduct research and apply practical solutions in plant management and soil conservation.
Credentials awarded
What Plant Sciences graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree52 graduates / yr · 5 institutions50%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship49 graduates / yr · 4 institutions47%
- Doctor's degree - professional practice2 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.9%
- Bachelor's degree1 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.0%
Graduates over time
Plant Sciences completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 105 |
| 2013 | 119 |
| 2014 | 122 |
| 2015 | 121 |
| 2016 | 114 |
| 2017 | 109 |
| 2018 | 136 |
| 2019 | 118 |
| 2020 | 97 |
| 2021 | 108 |
| 2022 | 99 |
| 2023 | 118 |
| 2024 | 107 |
| 2025 | 104 |
Top 7 institutions for Plant Sciences, 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 | Auburn University Auburn, ALPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 46 | 82% | — | $39,024 |
| 2 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 26 | 86% | — | $43,873 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 14 | 86% | — | — |
| 4 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KYPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 11 | 71% | — | — |
| 5 | University of Delaware Newark, DEPublicMaster's | 4 | 81% | — | $39,362 |
| 6 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicDoctoral (prof.) | 2 | 91% | — | $36,372 |
| 7 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 81% | $13,712 | — |
* 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 7 states
Where Plant Sciences graduates come from. Each state links to all Plant Sciences programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 | 46 | Auburn University46 / yr |
| California | 1 | 26 | University of California - Davis26 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 14 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus14 / yr |
| Kentucky | 1 | 11 | University of Kentucky11 / yr |
| Delaware | 1 | 4 | University of Delaware4 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 2 | University of Florida2 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 1 | Brigham Young University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1013, Soil and Plant Scientists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Plant Sciences program often pursue careers as Soil and Plant Scientists or Agricultural Sciences Teachers. The job outlook is promising, with a projected growth rate of 5.4% and approximately 1,700 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is around $71,410, typically requiring at least a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 01.1199
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 Plant Sciences 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
- Agricultural and Horticultural Plant BreedingCIP 01.1104partial data42 graduates / yr6 institutions
Common questions
What degrees are offered in Plant Sciences?+
The program offers Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctor's degrees in Plant Sciences.
What skills will I gain from this program?+
You will develop skills in science, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue with a degree in Plant Sciences?+
You can work as a Soil and Plant Scientist or an Agricultural Sciences Teacher, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for Plant Sciences graduates?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a growth rate of 5.4% and 1,700 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Plant Sciences?+
Plant Sciences is CIP 01.1199 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Plant Sciences (CIP 01.11). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in plant sciences not listed above.
How many institutions offer Plant Sciences programs?+
7 U.S. institutions reported Plant Sciences graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 7 states, awarding 104 credentials in the year. That is 3.0% of all Plant Sciences graduates.
How much do Plant Sciences graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Soil and Plant Scientists occupation, which Plant Sciences 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 $39,362 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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