Best institutions to study Soil Sciences
Any instructional program in the soil sciences not listed above.
6 U.S. institutions graduated 52 Soil Sciences students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 01.1299, 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 Sciences programs
Any instructional program in the soil sciences not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Soil Sciences program focuses on the study of soil as a natural resource, emphasizing its role in agriculture, environmental sustainability, and land management. This program is designed for students interested in understanding soil properties, management practices, and their impact on plant growth and the environment. It prepares graduates for various roles in agricultural and environmental sectors.
Students in the Soil Sciences program will gain core skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and scientific analysis. Coursework typically includes subjects like biology, chemistry, and mathematics, equipping students with the knowledge needed to address soil-related challenges and promote sustainable practices.
Credentials awarded
What Soil Sciences graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree35 graduates / yr · 3 institutions67%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship11 graduates / yr · 3 institutions21%
- Master's degree6 graduates / yr · 2 institutions12%
Graduates over time
Soil Sciences completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 60 |
| 2013 | 50 |
| 2014 | 47 |
| 2015 | 78 |
| 2016 | 54 |
| 2017 | 55 |
| 2018 | 50 |
| 2019 | 49 |
| 2020 | 60 |
| 2021 | 68 |
| 2022 | 48 |
| 2023 | 68 |
| 2024 | 55 |
| 2025 | 52 |
Top 6 institutions for Soil 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 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 24 | 81% | $13,712 | — |
| 2 | Clemson University Clemson, SCPublicBachelor's | 9 | 87% | — | — |
| 3 | University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HIPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 8 | 64% | — | — |
| 4 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 6 | 86% | — | — |
| 5 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Stillwater, OKPublicDoctoral | 3 | 68% | — | $43,421 |
| 6 | University of Idaho Moscow, IDPublicBachelor's | 2 | 57% | — | — |
* 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 6 states
Where Soil Sciences graduates come from. Each state links to all Soil Sciences programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | 1 | 24 | Brigham Young University24 / yr |
| South Carolina | 1 | 9 | Clemson University9 / yr |
| Hawaii | 1 | 8 | University of Hawaii at Manoa8 / yr |
| California | 1 | 6 | University of California - Davis6 / yr |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 3 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus3 / yr |
| Idaho | 1 | 2 | University of Idaho2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1013, Soil and Plant Scientists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Soil Sciences program can pursue careers as Soil and Plant Scientists or Agricultural Sciences Teachers. The job outlook is favorable, with a projected growth rate of 5.4% and approximately 1,700 annual openings. Most positions require at least a Bachelor's degree, with a median wage of $71,410.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 01.1299
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 Soil 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 Soil Sciences specializations
The 3 other 6-digit CIP codes under Soil Sciences (CIP 01.12).
- Soil Science and AgronomyCIP 01.1201367 graduates / yr28 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 Soil Sciences?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, or a Doctor's degree in Soil Sciences.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, science, communication, and problem-solving.
What careers can I pursue with a degree in Soil Sciences?+
You can work as a Soil and Plant Scientist or an Agricultural Sciences Teacher, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for Soil 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 Soil Sciences?+
Soil Sciences is CIP 01.1299 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Soil Sciences (CIP 01.12). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in the soil sciences not listed above.
How many institutions offer Soil Sciences programs?+
6 U.S. institutions reported Soil Sciences graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 6 states, awarding 52 credentials in the year. That is 11.7% of all Soil Sciences graduates.
How much do Soil Sciences graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Soil and Plant Scientists occupation, which Soil Sciences 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 $43,421 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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