Agriculture

About Agriculture

Wondering whether Agriculture is worth studying? What matters is what graduates actually earn, where they end up working, and which colleges produce the most of them. Most graduates end up in this field, so it is worth knowing what a Veterinarian earns and how the role is projected to grow.

Crop science, animal husbandry, agribusiness, and food systems, academic and applied training for the farming, food production, and rural-economy industry. Four years after finishing the degree, graduates in this field earn a national median of $49,634, per College Scorecard. You can study it at 986 colleges and universities across the country, so location is rarely the limiting factor. About 51,081 students complete a degree in this area every year.

Median Earnings · 1yr

$41,077

Median Earnings · 4yr

$49,634

Colleges Offering

986

Graduates / Year

51,081

Specializations

19

Avg Net Price / yr

$19,043

Is an Agriculture Degree Right for You?

Is the Investment Worth It?

Solid ROI. Median earnings of $49,634 after 4 years. Against an estimated $76,172 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 3.9 years.

How Much Do Agriculture Majors Earn?

Pay for Agriculture graduates climbs fast in the first few years out. The median start is $41,077 one year after graduation, rising to $49,634 by year four, so the early salary is not the ceiling. Source: College Scorecard, across all 986 US institutions offering programs in this field.

What Can You Do With an Agriculture Degree?

Career Paths for Agriculture Graduates

Studying Agriculture does not lock you into one job title. It opens 8 occupations tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, from entry-level roles to senior ones, and Veterinarian pays the most among them at a median $130,100 a year. Each row below adds national wages, employment levels, and the 10-year growth outlook so you can weigh the rest.

Another common path leads to what an Economist typically earns and how the field is trending.

Agriculture Specializations

Which specialization you pick inside Agriculture matters more than usual here. Agriculture breaks into 19 specializations, and four-year earnings swing from $40,334 to $80,757 depending on which one you choose. Each row below links to a full program profile, sorted highest-paying first. Source: College Scorecard.

The highest-paying specialization is the cost and outcomes for an Agricultural and Food Products Processing program, which is worth a closer look before settling on the broader field.

Best Colleges for Agriculture

These are the 20 colleges that graduate the most students in Agriculture, ranked by how many completed the degree in the most recent reporting year, not by selectivity or prestige. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate for each one come from College Scorecard and IPEDS.

By that measure, the list starts with the cost and admissions data for Texas A&M University-College Station.

Ranked by number of Agriculture graduates per IPEDS completion data. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate from College Scorecard. Read our methodology →

How Agriculture Compares to Similar Majors

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of an Agriculture degree, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find programs that match your profile.

Agriculture Degree: Pros & Cons

Weigh the financial trade-offs in Agriculture carefully before committing to it. The 2 strengths and 1 concerns below come from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts, so you can see exactly what is driving the caution.

Agriculture Degree: Frequently Asked Questions