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Major · Agriculture & Animal Sciences

Specialized programs across the agricultural sciences

This catchall CIP code (01.9999) groups interdisciplinary or specialized agricultural programs that don’t fit a named sub-discipline—often sustainable agriculture, food systems, or precision-ag tracks at land-grant universities. With 411 annual completions across 26 colleges and median five-year earnings of $68,110, the data hides considerable variation by institution.

Schools offering
26
Annual completions
411
Typical degree level
Associate's + Bachelor's
Median earnings (5yr)
$68k

About this major

Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other (CIP 01.9999) is a catchall classification covering instructional programs in the agricultural sciences that don’t fit any of the named CIP codes in the 01.xxxx family. By definition the curriculum varies considerably across the 26 colleges that report it. Programs typically filed here include sustainable agriculture, food systems, precision agriculture, agroecology, and interdisciplinary tracks that span livestock, plant, and ag-business coursework. Coursework can range from soil chemistry and remote-sensing data analysis to supply-chain economics and on-farm trial design.

This pathway typically attracts students drawn to the systems-level questions in agriculture rather than a single sub-discipline. The major rewards comfort with ambiguity, ability to integrate biological and economic reasoning, and willingness to spend time on actual farms or research stations. Students who already know they want to be an agronomist or an ag-economist usually choose the named CIP instead; those who choose 01.9999 are often drawn to a specific institution’s interdisciplinary focus.

With 411 annual completions concentrated at land-grant universities and a few specialized agricultural colleges, this is a small footprint nationally. Murray State University leads with 103 completions, followed by Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College at 77 and Ohio State at 48. Bachelor’s-level median earnings of $68,110 five years out are competitive for the agricultural sciences, with graduates moving into roles at companies like Cargill and General Mills, ag-tech firms such as Climate Corp and Pivot Bio, USDA agencies, and Cooperative Extension positions at land-grants.

Section 3 · Careers

Where this major leads

Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.

No federal crosswalk data available for this major yet.

Section 4 · Earnings

Earnings at a glance

Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.

Median 5-year earnings

$68k

Who this major is for

You may thrive here if you are drawn to systems-level thinking about how food, land, and biology intersect, if you want to take coursework that crosses livestock, plants, and ag-business rather than picking just one, if you have already identified a specific institution—Murray State, Abraham Baldwin, Ohio State—whose interdisciplinary program reflects how you want to work, if you are comfortable explaining your major to employers who may not recognize the CIP code, and if your career interests run toward sustainable agriculture, food systems, precision-ag, or Cooperative Extension work rather than a narrow research specialty.

Think twice if you already know you want a focused career as an agronomist, animal scientist, ag-economist, or veterinary technician—a named CIP like Agricultural Economics (1,453 completions) or Animal Sciences will signal your specialization more clearly to graduate programs and employers. This major is also a poor fit if you want a large established cohort, since 26 colleges nationally and 411 annual completions means programs are small and vary considerably by institution. Reconsider if you cannot articulate why a specific program’s curriculum and faculty drew you in, because the CIP code itself carries less signal than the named alternatives in the 01.xxxx family.

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other

Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.

College Location Assoc. Bach. Total
Murray State University Murray, KY 2 101 103
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tifton, GA 0 77 77
Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH 0 48 48
Northern Oklahoma College Tonkawa, OK 38 0 38
Morehead State University Morehead, KY 0 37 37
Northern Michigan University Marquette, MI 24 12 36
University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 0 19 19
Delta College University Center, MI 8 0 8
University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 0 8 8
Holmes Community College Goodman, MS 7 0 7
Section 7 · Explore sideways

Related majors to explore

Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations

3,011 completions/yr

Agriculture, General

2,733 completions/yr

Agricultural Business and Management, General

1,697 completions/yr

Agricultural Economics

1,453 completions/yr

Farm/Farm and Ranch Management

227 completions/yr

Agricultural/Farm Supplies Retailing and Wholesaling

118 completions/yr

Agricultural Business and Management, Other

100 completions/yr

Agricultural Business Technology/Technician

30 completions/yr
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

How does this compare to Agriculture, General?
Agriculture, General (CIP 01.0000) is roughly 6.6 times larger at 2,733 annual completions, and its curriculum is broader and more standardized across institutions. The 01.9999 “Other” code captures programs that don’t fit a named sub-discipline—typically interdisciplinary tracks like sustainable agriculture, food systems, or precision agriculture at land-grant universities. The two codes can produce graduates with overlapping skills, but the named General code signals broader employability while the Other code often signals a specific institutional focus.
What do students in this major actually study?
Coursework varies considerably by institution because the CIP code is a catchall. At Murray State University, the largest producer with 103 completions, programs typically blend agronomy, animal science, and ag-business coursework. At Ohio State and University of Kentucky, programs may emphasize sustainable agriculture or food-systems research. Read the actual program description and faculty research areas before enrolling, not just the CIP code.
What kinds of jobs do graduates land?
Career destinations track the program focus. Sustainable-ag and food-systems graduates move into roles at companies like Cargill, General Mills, and Indigo Ag, or into Cooperative Extension positions at land-grants. Precision-agriculture tracks feed into ag-tech firms like Climate Corp and Pivot Bio. Graduates also pursue federal positions with USDA, state ag departments, and international development organizations like USAID Feed the Future.
Is the bachelor’s enough, or do I need a master’s?
The data shows bachelor’s-level median earnings of $68,110 five years out, which is competitive for the agricultural sciences and suggests the bachelor’s alone supports solid entry into industry roles. A master’s becomes important if you want to pursue extension-specialist work, applied research at firms like Pivot Bio or Inari, or policy roles at USDA. Many graduates start working after the bachelor’s and pursue a master’s part-time once they’ve identified a specialization.
Why do completions look low compared to named ag majors?
With 411 completions, this code sits well below Agribusiness (3,011) and Agriculture, General (2,733). The scarcity reflects administrative grouping—universities only assign students to 01.9999 when no named sub-discipline fits. Murray State and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College together account for 180 of the 411 completions, meaning the national footprint is concentrated at a handful of institutions with distinctive interdisciplinary programs.
Should I consider a sibling CIP instead?
If your interest is well-defined, a named CIP usually serves you better. Choose Agricultural Business (01.0101, 1,697 completions) for ag-finance and management, Agricultural Economics (01.0103, 1,453 completions) for policy and analysis, or a named animal or plant science CIP for research-track work. The 01.9999 code makes sense when your target program is genuinely interdisciplinary—sustainable ag, food systems, or precision agriculture—and the institution’s specific curriculum is what draws you in.