Best institutions to study Soil Science and Agronomy
A program that generally focuses on the scientific classification of soils, soil properties, and their relationship to agricultural crops.
28 U.S. institutions graduated 367 Soil Science and Agronomy students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 01.1201, a specialization of Soil Sciences (CIP 01.12), and leads most directly to the Soil and Plant Scientists occupation (BLS SOC 19-1013).
About Soil Science and Agronomy programs
A program that generally focuses on the scientific classification of soils, soil properties, and their relationship to agricultural crops. Includes instruction in soil chemistry, soil physics, soil biology, soil fertility, morphogenesis, mineralogy, hydrology, agronomy, and soil conservation and management.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Soil Science and Agronomy program focuses on the scientific classification and properties of soils and their relationship to agricultural crops. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding soil chemistry, biology, and conservation, as well as their applications in agriculture and environmental management.
Students will gain core skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and scientific analysis. Coursework typically includes soil chemistry, soil physics, soil fertility, and hydrology, equipping graduates with the knowledge needed to address soil-related challenges in agriculture.
Credentials awarded
What Soil Science and Agronomy graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree137 graduates / yr · 12 institutions37%
- Master's degree114 graduates / yr · 17 institutions31%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship40 graduates / yr · 13 institutions11%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate36 graduates / yr · 2 institutions9.8%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year22 graduates / yr · 4 institutions6.0%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years10 graduates / yr · 2 institutions2.7%
- Associate's degree4 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.1%
- Award of less than 12 weeks4 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.1%
Graduates over time
Soil Science and Agronomy completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 285 |
| 2013 | 316 |
| 2014 | 388 |
| 2015 | 375 |
| 2016 | 408 |
| 2017 | 372 |
| 2018 | 340 |
| 2019 | 335 |
| 2020 | 312 |
| 2021 | 305 |
| 2022 | 327 |
| 2023 | 339 |
| 2024 | 354 |
| 2025 | 367 |
Top 28 institutions for Soil Science and Agronomy, 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 Florida Gainesville, FLPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert.DoctoralBachelor'sAward of less than 12 weeks | 86 | 91% | — | — |
| 2 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MIPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 39 | 81% | — | $50,770 |
| 3 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, COPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 27 | 67% | — | $46,287 |
| 4 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Stillwater, OKPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 27 | 68% | — | $43,421 |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Stevens Point, WIPublicBachelor's | 19 | 51% | — | $50,046 |
| 6 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NEPublicBachelor's | 18 | 67% | — | — |
| 7 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NCPublicMaster'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearDoctoral | 17 | 85% | — | — |
| 8 | Iowa State University Ames, IAPublicPost-degree cert.Master'sDoctoral | 16 | 75% | — | — |
| 9 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, INPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 14 | 83% | — | — |
| 10 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 13 | 90% | — | — |
| 11 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicBachelor's | 10 | 90% | — | — |
| 12 | Brigham Young University - Idaho Rexburg, IDPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 9 | 55% | $6,760 | — |
| 13 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 9 | 85% | — | — |
| 14 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest Newbern, TNPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 9 | 69% | — | — |
| 15 | University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Mayaguez, PRPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 9 | 49% | — | — |
| 16 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MOPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 58% | — | — |
| 17 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale, ILPublicBachelor's | 7 | 62% | — | $55,076 |
| 18 | University of Idaho Moscow, IDPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 5 | 57% | — | — |
| 19 | Northwest State Community College Archbold, OHPublicAssociate's | 4 | 46% | — | — |
| 20 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 4 | 86% | — | — |
| 21 | Washington State University Pullman, WAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 4 | 60% | — | — |
| 22 | Oregon State University Corvallis, ORPublicMaster's | 3 | 70% | — | — |
| 23 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Jackson Jackson, TNPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 3 | 80% | — | — |
| 24 | Utah State University Logan, UTPublicDoctoralMaster's | 3 | 59% | — | — |
| 25 | Buena Vista University Storm Lake, IAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 62% | $17,609 | — |
| 26 | North Dakota State University - Main Campus Fargo, NDPublicMaster's | 1 | 64% | — | — |
| 27 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicMaster's | 1 | 84% | — | — |
| 28 | University of Wyoming Laramie, WYPublicDoctoral | 1 | 59% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Soil Sciences field (CIP 01.12) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 24 states & territories
Where Soil Science and Agronomy graduates come from. Each state links to all Soil Sciences programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1013, Soil and Plant Scientists, and its national outlook.
Graduates can pursue careers as Soil and Plant Scientists, Agricultural Technicians, or Agricultural Sciences Teachers. The job outlook for soil science professionals is faster than average, with an estimated 1,700 annual openings and a median wage of $71,410, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 01.1201
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 Technicians SOC 19-4012 | $49,630 | +4.3% About as fast as average | ~2,900 | Associate'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 Soil Science and Agronomy 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 Soil Sciences specializations
The 3 other 6-digit CIP codes under Soil Sciences (CIP 01.12).
- Soil SciencesCIP 01.1299partial data52 graduates / yr6 institutions
- Soil Chemistry and PhysicsCIP 01.1202limited data25 graduates / yr1 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Soil Microbiology01.1203
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor's degree, as well as a Postbaccalaureate certificate.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in science, critical thinking, communication, and active learning.
What kind of jobs can I get after graduation?+
You can work as a Soil and Plant Scientist, Agricultural Technician, or a teacher in agricultural sciences.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is expected to grow by 5.4%, with 1,700 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Soil Science and Agronomy?+
Soil Science and Agronomy is CIP 01.1201 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Soil Sciences (CIP 01.12). NCES defines it as: A program that generally focuses on the scientific classification of soils, soil properties, and their relationship to agricultural crops. Includes instruction in soil chemistry, soil physics, soil biology, soil fertility, morphogenesis, mineralogy, hydrology, agronomy, and soil conservation and management.
How many institutions offer Soil Science and Agronomy programs?+
28 U.S. institutions reported Soil Science and Agronomy graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 24 states & territories, awarding 367 credentials in the year. That is 82.7% of all Soil Sciences graduates.
How much do Soil Science and Agronomy graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Soil and Plant Scientists occupation, which Soil Science and Agronomy most directly leads to, pays a median of $78,850 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Soil Sciences field report median earnings of $50,046 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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