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Major · Agricultural, Animal, Plant & Veterinary Sciences

The science of soils, seeds, and the crops that grow between them

Agronomy and Crop Science studies the chemistry, biology, and physics of crops and the soils that sustain them. About 730 degrees are awarded each year across 62 colleges, almost all of them at four-year land-grant or polytechnic universities embedded in agricultural regions.

Schools offering
62
Annual completions
730
Typical degree level
Associate's + Bachelor's
Median earnings (5yr)
$56k

About this major

Agronomy and Crop Science is built around the chemistry, biology, and physics of crops and the soils that grow them. The CIP definition frames the field as the study of how crops and soils interact, the development of new plant varieties, and the scientific management of soils and nutrients for maximum plant nutrition, health, and productivity. Coursework covers plant physiology, soil chemistry, plant breeding, crop production systems, and nutrient and water management. Field plots, greenhouses, and growing-season research projects are standard rather than optional in the curriculum.

The major rewards students who are genuinely engaged with how plants grow and how soils support them. Comfort with applied chemistry and biology helps, as does a willingness to do work that runs on the calendar of an actual growing season. Programs cluster at land-grant and polytechnic institutions in agricultural regions: West Texas A&M University leads with 73 bachelor's completions, followed by Iowa State (57), California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (48), and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (46). Mississippi State, Kansas State, and Texas Tech also appear in the top ten, reflecting how tightly the major maps to crop-producing geography.

At the career level, the field branches by degree dependence. Soil and plant scientists earn a $71,410 median wage with 5.4% projected growth, and a bachelor's is the typical entry credential. Agricultural technicians earn $46,790 with 4.3% growth and require only an associate's. Farmers, ranchers, and agricultural managers earn the highest median in the set at $87,980, but typically enter through operational experience rather than a degree. About 730 degrees are awarded annually across 62 colleges, making this a small but well-distributed program closely tied to production agriculture.

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.

Occupation Median wage Job growth Typical education
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers $88k -1.3% High school diploma or equivalent
First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers $59k +2.5% High school diploma or equivalent
Soil and plant scientists $71k +5.4% Bachelor's degree
Agricultural technicians $47k +4.3% Associate's degree
Farm and home management educators $58k -2.5% Master's degree
Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary $86k +4.1% Doctoral or professional degree
Section 4 · Earnings

Earnings at a glance

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

Median 5-year earnings

$56k

Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings

Associate's

$62k

Bachelor's

$56k

Who this major is for

Students who have spent meaningful time around crops, soil, or row-crop farming often want the scientific framework to do that work more systematically, making this major an excellent fit. You may also be drawn to this path if your target career is a soil and plant scientist—a $71,410 median wage role projecting 5.4% growth that lists a bachelor’s as the typical entry credential. Alternatively, those aiming for an agricultural technician path ($46,790, associate’s-eligible) benefit from this strong applied-science foundation. Overall, learners who enjoy outdoor fieldwork and growing-season research as much as classroom instruction generally find the curriculum engaging rather than tedious.

Reconsider this path if your interest leans more toward plant biology for its own sake rather than crop production, as Plant Sciences or Horticultural Science might better suit that focus. You should also weigh the financial realities if you are primarily motivated by earnings. Bachelor’s completers in this major report a five-year median of $55,977, modestly below the associate’s-completer figure of $61,971—an unusual inversion suggesting a small, vocationally focused two-year cohort. Finally, if the business and operations side of farming pulls you more than the science of soils and crops, related agribusiness majors will align more directly with the actual skills those careers require.

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for Agronomy and Crop Science

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

College Location Assoc. Bach. Total
West Texas A & M University Canyon, TX 0 73 73
Iowa State University Ames, IA 0 57 57
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA 0 48 48
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE 0 46 46
West Virginia University Morgantown, WV 0 37 37
Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX 0 34 34
California State University-Monterey Bay Seaside, CA 0 32 32
California State University-Chico Chico, CA 0 31 31
Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS 0 28 28
Kansas State University Manhattan, KS 0 25 25
Section 7 · Explore sideways

Related majors to explore

Animal Sciences, General

6,799 completions/yr

Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations

3,011 completions/yr

Agriculture, General

2,733 completions/yr

Agricultural Business and Management, General

1,697 completions/yr

Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations, General

809 completions/yr

Horticultural Science

624 completions/yr

Plant Sciences, General

483 completions/yr

Agricultural Production Operations, General

458 completions/yr
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

What do Agronomy and Crop Science majors actually study day-to-day?
Coursework centers on the chemical, physical, and biological relationships between crops and the soils they grow in. Students learn plant physiology, soil chemistry, plant breeding, and the scientific management of nutrients and water for productivity. Field labs, greenhouse work, and growing-season research projects are standard parts of the curriculum at the largest programs. The CIP definition specifically calls out the development of new plant varieties and the management of soils for maximum plant nutrition and health.
What kinds of jobs do Agronomy and Crop Science graduates end up in?
Soil and plant scientists, with a $71,410 median wage and 5.4% projected growth, is the most degree-aligned destination and lists a bachelor's as the typical entry credential. Agricultural technicians earn $46,790 with 4.3% growth and need only an associate's. Farmers, ranchers, and agricultural managers earn the highest median in the data set at $87,980, but typically enter through operational experience rather than a degree. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers earn $59,330.
Do I need a bachelor's, or is an associate's enough for Agronomy and Crop Science?
It depends on the role you want. A bachelor's is the typical entry credential for soil and plant scientists, the most research-facing destination in this major. Agricultural technician work is built around the associate's and pays $46,790 median. Notably, this major shows a five-year associate's-completer median of $61,971 against a bachelor's-completer median of $55,977 — the associate's number runs higher, likely reflecting a smaller, more vocationally focused two-year cohort. Choose by the role you're targeting, not by the average earnings spread.
How does the job market look across the careers this major feeds?
Growth is mixed across the destinations. Soil and plant scientists project 5.4% growth, agricultural technicians 4.3%, and agricultural sciences postsecondary teachers 4.1%. First-line farming supervisors come in at 2.5%. By contrast, farmers, ranchers, and agricultural managers project a -1.3% decline and farm and home management educators a -2.5% decline — both reflecting consolidation in the agricultural sector rather than weak demand for science-trained workers.
Is Agronomy and Crop Science the right fit, or should I look at a related major?
Plant Sciences, General (483 completions) and Horticultural Science (624 completions) sit under the same four-digit CIP family and are direct alternatives if your interest leans more toward the plant biology side than soil and crop production. Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations (3,011 completions) and Agricultural Business and Management (1,697 completions) make more sense if the operational and market side of farming pulls you more than the science. Agriculture, General (2,733 completions) is the broader umbrella for students still mapping the field.
Where are the largest programs located?
Programs are concentrated at land-grant and polytechnic universities in agricultural regions. West Texas A&M University leads with 73 bachelor's completions, followed by Iowa State University at 57, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo at 48, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln at 46. Mississippi State, Kansas State, Texas Tech, and West Virginia University also appear among the top ten. The geographic concentration matters — career outcomes typically tie to proximity to crop production agriculture.