Education
Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $101,420
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Instructing
- Learning Strategies
- Reading Comprehension
ProgramsAgricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields
Plant Sciences
CIP01.11
85 colleges offer Plant Sciences. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 85
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $56,447
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $18,500
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 55
- Associate's
- 47
- Bachelor's
- 85
- Master's
- 53
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 2
- Doctoral
- 43
- First professional
- 1
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 13
What it covers
About Plant Sciences
A general program that focuses on the scientific principles that underlie the breeding, cultivation, and production of agricultural plants, and the production, processing, and distribution of agricultural plant products. Includes instruction in the plant sciences, crop cultivation and production, and agricultural and food products processing.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 01.11.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 01.11.
- Plant Sciences, General
- Agronomy and Crop Science
- Horticultural Science
- Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding
- Plant Protection and Integrated Pest Management
- Range Science and Management
- Reserved
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 55 | Not reported | $14,0001 college |
| Associate's | 47 | $61,9714 yrs after · 2 colleges | $11,0001 college |
| Bachelor's | 85 | $56,4474 yrs after · 42 colleges | $18,50037 colleges |
| Master's | 53 | $72,1284 yrs after · 8 colleges | Not reported |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 43 | $82,4471 yr after · 1 college | Not reported |
| First professional | 1 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 13 | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Plant Sciences graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA · Public · 49 graduates
$82,487
debt $19,333
- 2
Brookings, SD · Public · 17 graduates
$78,494
debt $20,500
- 3
California State University-Fresno
Fresno, CA · Public · 63 graduates
$77,034
debt $19,250
- 4
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · Public · 31 graduates
$72,335
debt not reported
- 5
California State University-Chico
Chico, CA · Public · 33 graduates
$68,629
debt $12,767
- 6
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona, CA · Public · 26 graduates
$66,714
debt not reported
- 7
Texas A & M University-College Station
College Station, TX · Public · 22 graduates
$66,513
debt $18,500
- 8
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL · Public · 14 graduates
$63,279
debt not reported
- 9
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO · Public · 36 graduates
$62,957
debt $15,728
- 10
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, NE · Public · 50 graduates
$61,946
debt $18,750
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Plant Sciences by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
Education
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $98,700
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Instructing
- Learning Strategies
- Reading Comprehension
Management
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
- Median pay
- $89,900
- Outlook
- Decline
High school diploma
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Bright outlook
Science
Soil and Plant Scientists
- Median pay
- $78,850
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Learning
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Bright outlook
Science
Conservation Scientists
- Median pay
- $73,010
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Complex Problem Solving
- Bright outlook
Science
Park Naturalists
- Median pay
- $73,010
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Bright outlook
Science
Range Managers
- Median pay
- $73,010
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Bright outlook
Science
Animal Scientists
- Median pay
- $68,940
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Complex Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
More in Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this area- Agricultural Business and Management232 colleges
- Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services229 colleges
- Agricultural Production Operations187 colleges
- Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians183 colleges
- Agriculture, General111 colleges
- Animal Sciences99 colleges
- Food Science and Technology76 colleges
- Agricultural Mechanization57 colleges
Questions about Plant Sciences
How many colleges offer Plant Sciences?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Plant Sciences at these degree levels: certificate (55 colleges), associate's (47 colleges), bachelor's (85 colleges), master's (53 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (2 colleges), doctoral (43 colleges), first professional (1 college), graduate/professional certificate (13 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Plant Sciences graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Plant Sciences earn $56,447 a year four years after finishing, across 42 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Plant Sciences graduates earn the most?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Plant Sciences: $82,487 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.