farmer
Bachelors In

Agriculture Degrees

The complete guide on what you’ll learn, job prospects, university programs, and saving time and money.

Why We Love It

  • $69,880
    Potential Avg. Salary*

* Salary & growth data is based on the recent Bureau of Labor and Statistics data published at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes119013.htm for 11-9013 Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers 11/2021. Based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.

With a bachelor of science in agriculture, you’ll gain the education needed to succeed in a variety of agriculture disciplines, including farming, livestock management, and agricultural economics.

Whether you grew up on a family farm or are inexperienced but interested in the industry, a degree in agriculture can help you decide on the branch of agriculture you’re most interested in, and gain the skills needed for success.

What is a Degree in Agriculture?

In a bachelor of science in agriculture program, you’ll learn about concepts related to modern farming and food production. You can focus on a diverse variety of topics—from livestock management to crop and soil science.

Individuals interested in becoming ranchers can focus their studies on learning how to buy, sell, and care for farm animals. Those interested in farming focus on learning how to plan crops each season, grow crops for the highest profits, and market crops at farmer’s markets and with distributors.

Degrees in agriculture are useful for individuals both with and without farming and ranching experience. Experienced farmers and farmhands learn the business of running a farm and how to ensure your farm is profitable.

Individuals without previous farming experience learn introductory farming topics, such as caring for animals, environments that promote crop growth, and how to identify different types of soils. Graduates from agriculture programs move on to work as farmers and ranchers or to find work for food manufacturers.

Recommended Schools

What Courses Would I Take For a Major in Agriculture?

  • Introduction to Agri-Food Systems
  • Biology of Plants and Animals in Managed Ecosystems
  • Agricultural Economics
  • Production Animal Science
  • Plant and Soil Science
  • Agricultural Management
  • Environmental Law
  • Organic Farming

What Jobs Can You Get with a Degree in Agriculture?

Food is necessary for maintaining life, so individuals who have the skills needed to succeed in growing and producing food shouldn’t have trouble finding work.

Additionally, with organic food consumption on the rise, more companies and individuals than ever are seeking sources of food that is grown organically and food animals that are raised ethically. Individuals with agriculture degrees should be able to find work in the field as farmers, ranchers, farm assistants, and farmer’s market sellers, or to work for major food producers.

How Long does it take?

A bachelors in Agriculture will have a typical length of 4 years in a full time schedule. That said, there are many ways to speed up the timeframe by either taking more units via online coursework, community college, or taking free classes at OnlineDegree.com that could transfer to universities in the US.

Recommended Schools


Best Jobs for Agriculture Degrees

Graduates from agriculture bachelor’s degree programs work in food production in a variety of areas. Some go on to own and operate independent farms and ranches, and others work for food production companies as farmhands, farm planners, or environmental lawyers.

Others go into areas like livestock buying and selling, traveling the country and attending auctions to find marketable livestock to sell.


How to save time and money

Our mission is to help you to avoid paying full price for college. We want your Agriculture degree to be affordable and accessible. Here’s how you could save:

Create Your Free SmartPlan

There are many ways to make college affordable and accessible.

That’s why we created a helpful tool called SmartPlan.

It’s free, and helps you find potential ways to save and tons of information about each school you’re considering

Think of it as your “college blueprint”, to help you instantly craft a path to your degree:

  • Which Colleges Match Your Needs
  • Ways You Could Save Time & Money
  • Free Courses You Could Take for Credit
  • Valuable Data and Insights on Each College
  • Detailed Steps You Should Take!

See what’s possible for you and generate a free plan within just a few minutes

Create My SmartPlan

Get a Certificate in Agriculture First

If you’re going into college after growing up or working on a farm, you may be able to get the education needed to own your own farm or ranch by earning a certificate in agriculture.

In a certificate program, you can focus your studies on the topics you’re not already knowledgeable about, jump-starting your career as an independent farmer or rancher. Best of all, if you decide to pursue a bachelor’s degree later, your certificate credits may transfer to reduce the amount of education needed for a degree.


You Might also be Interested in

Many visitors who look for a degree in Agriculture are also interested in the following degrees.

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