Best Agriculture colleges in the U.S.
Why a degree in agriculture?
Growing up on a farm does a few things to you. You eat fresh grown vegetables, drive tractors, watch sunsets over the acreage, and don flannel on the regular. However, only about 10% of Americans are actual farmers*.
How to prepare for an agriculture degree
Believe it or not, there are more than 200 careers other than farming in the agriculture field: food science, purchasing, horticulture, and landscaping to name a few*. With such a large array of options, the job growth is varied. Some careers, such as food science, are increasing around 8%, while others, like farming, are seeing little to no jumps.
The increasing population is giving the agriculture business more mouths to feed. Some people hold doors open or volunteer their time. But you want to feed the people, and you are ready to work hard to do it. And if it all works out, a career in agriculture gives you permission to listen to all the country music you want with nobody to judge.
*Agriculture Council of America, Agriculture Careers*Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
Best Agriculture colleges in the U.S. for 2023
Texas A & M University-College Station offers 84 Agriculture degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2020, 1,592 Agriculture students graduated with students earning 1,269 Bachelor's degrees, 126 Master's degrees, 120 Certificates, and 77 Doctoral degrees.
Oregon State University offers 94 Agriculture degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2020, 1,122 Agriculture students graduated with students earning 760 Bachelor's degrees, 197 Master's degrees, 123 Certificates, and 42 Doctoral degrees.
University of Florida offers 58 Agriculture degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2020, 908 Agriculture students graduated with students earning 507 Bachelor's degrees, 206 Master's degrees, 115 Certificates, and 80 Doctoral degrees.
Those who come to Iowa State University to major in agricultural disciplines should think of themselves not only as students but also as active participants in the future of farming and related areas. The institution’s commitment to training tomorrow’s leaders is exemplified in a senior-level capstone course fondly known as Ag450 Farm. Students get to manage the operations of the university’s 1,400-acre farm complete with corn, soybeans and pigs—oh my! Talk about putting the problem solving, decision-making, and communication skills learned in class to use. As a land-grant institution, the university focuses much of its agricultural research efforts on advances that will help the people of Iowa. However, Iowa State is also quite active on the global level and encourages studying abroad. More than 400 students from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) traveled last year, doing everything from studying soil and crops in Costa Rica to examining agricultural world markets in Spain. The combination of thorough classroom training and hands-on experience prepares Iowa State agricultural students for post-graduation success. Nearly 98 percent of CALS graduates reported they were working, continuing their education, or serving in the military within six months of receiving their diplomas. The annual Agriculture and Life Sciences Fall Career Day brings more than 250 employers directly to campus, making the event one of the largest of its kind in the nation.
Kansas State University may be known as “The Little Apple” because it is located in Manhattan, Kan., but for the roughly 2,680 undergrads and 350 graduate students enrolled in the College of Agriculture, the classic college town is a great place to learn about farm-related issues. Twelve percent of Kansas State’s graduating class in 2013 earned a degree in an agricultural discipline, making it the school’s second most popular area of study. Undergraduate majors include agribusiness, agricultural communications and journalism, agricultural economics, agricultural education, agricultural technology management, agronomy, animal sciences and industry, bakery science and management, feed science and management, food science and industry, general agriculture, horticulture, milling science and management, park management and conservation, pre-veterinary medicine, and wildlife and outdoor enterprise management. In 2008, Kansas State opened the Biosecurity Research Institute, a frontline offensive against pathogens in livestock, insects and plants that threaten food supplies and health. University, industry, and governmental scientists conduct research in the 113,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility.This gives students countless opportunities for hands-on experience. “K-State Ag” students, as they are called, also benefit from more than 30 agriculture-related student organizations and 20 competitive teams. From Collegiate Cattlewomen to the Poultry Judging Team, there’s an extracurricular activity to suit every interest.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh offers 62 Agriculture degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 879 Agriculture students graduated with students earning 551 Bachelor's degrees, 165 Associate's degrees, 107 Master's degrees, 32 Doctoral degrees, and 24 Certificates.
University of Wisconsin-Madison offers 52 Agriculture degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 499 Agriculture students graduated with students earning 296 Bachelor's degrees, 97 Certificates, 77 Master's degrees, and 29 Doctoral degrees.
Cornell University offers 35 Agriculture degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2020, 714 Agriculture students graduated with students earning 486 Bachelor's degrees, 168 Master's degrees, and 60 Doctoral degrees.
University of Georgia offers 58 Agriculture degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2020, 684 Agriculture students graduated with students earning 368 Bachelor's degrees, 197 Master's degrees, 87 Doctoral degrees, and 32 Certificates.
Purdue University-Main Campus offers 43 Agriculture degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2020, 880 Agriculture students graduated with students earning 632 Bachelor's degrees, 172 Master's degrees, 69 Doctoral degrees, and 7 Certificates.
Find local colleges with Agriculture majors in the U.S.
Top schools offering Agriculture degrees in the U.S.
List of all Agriculture colleges in the U.S.
| School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX | 24 : 1 | 70,418 | |
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Oregon State University Corvallis, OR | 24 : 1 | 32,312 | |
|
University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 21 : 1 | 53,372 | |
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Iowa State University Ames, IA | 21 : 1 | 31,822 | |
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Kansas State University Manhattan, KS | 21 : 1 | 20,854 | |