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Best Schools for Plant Sciences

Plant Sciences graduates earn a median of $37,230 within two years of graduation, ranking #128 out of 292 tracked majors — 5% above the median across all fields. There are 56 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 1,707 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Washington State University graduates earn $56,415 while Colorado State University-Fort Collins graduates earn $21,508 — a $34,907 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

Early career salary growth is modest: Plant Sciences graduates see an average 0% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

56
Schools
$37,230
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#128
of 292 Majors
1,707
Graduates

Public vs Private: Plant Sciences

Public (53 schools)
$37,575
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (2 schools)
$33,720
avg. 2yr earnings

Public schools produce comparable or higher early earnings for Plant Sciences, often at lower tuition — making them strong value options for this major.

Plant Sciences by State

California
7 schools
$39,683
Connecticut
5 schools
$45,696
Missouri
3 schools
$38,366
Wisconsin
3 schools
$41,503
Texas
2 schools
$44,240
Minnesota
2 schools
$34,723
Nebraska
2 schools
$35,317
New York
2 schools
$31,692

Top Plant Sciences Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
W

Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public

$56,415
2yr Earnings
1yr: $43,410
Grads: 29
Acceptance: 85.4%
#2
S

South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD · Public

$55,151
2yr Earnings
1yr: $50,213
Grads: 58
Acceptance: 98.7%
#3
C

California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Public

$50,606
2yr Earnings
1yr: $53,293
Grads: 53
Acceptance: 96.4%
#4
W

West Texas A & M University

Canyon, TX · Public

$48,432
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 97.4%
#5
N

Northwest Missouri State University

Maryville, MO · Public

$47,260
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 85.9%
#6
I

Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public

$46,395
2yr Earnings
1yr: $44,779
Grads: 131
Acceptance: 89.1%
#7
U

University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Platteville, WI · Public

$46,321
2yr Earnings
1yr: $45,159
Grads: 50
Acceptance: 87.3%
#8
U

University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT · Public

$45,696
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,983
Grads: 17
Acceptance: 53.9%
#9
U

University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus

Waterbury, CT · Public

$45,696
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,983
Grads: 17
Acceptance: 87.0%
#10
U

University of Connecticut-Avery Point

Groton, CT · Public

$45,696
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,983
Grads: 17
Acceptance: 86.5%
#11
U

University of Connecticut-Stamford

Stamford, CT · Public

$45,696
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,983
Grads: 17
Acceptance: 80.2%
#12
U

University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus

Hartford, CT · Public

$45,696
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,983
Grads: 17
Acceptance: 86.5%
#13
C

California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public

$45,181
2yr Earnings
1yr: $43,556
Grads: 43
Acceptance: 93.7%
#14
C

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

$44,869
2yr Earnings
1yr: $50,514
Grads: 75
Acceptance: 29.8%
#15
U

University of Minnesota-Crookston

Crookston, MN · Public

$44,830
2yr Earnings
1yr: $49,078
Grads: 26
Acceptance: 58.4%
#16
U

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, NE · Public

$44,666
2yr Earnings
1yr: $45,313
Grads: 87
Acceptance: 77.1%
#17
U

University of Wisconsin-River Falls

River Falls, WI · Public

$43,128
2yr Earnings
1yr: $44,131
Grads: 43
Acceptance: 81.6%
#18
K

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS · Public

$41,565
2yr Earnings
1yr: $42,883
Grads: 73
Acceptance: 79.4%
#19
O

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · Public

$41,464
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,299
Grads: 57
Acceptance: 50.8%
#20
A

Auburn University

Auburn, AL · Public

$40,896
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,144
Grads: 40
Acceptance: 50.5%
#21
T

Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Kingsville, TX · Public

$40,048
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 92.3%
#22
C

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Arcata, CA · Public

$39,927
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 98.8%
#23
U

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY · Public

$39,729
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 92.4%
#24
A

Arkansas State University

Jonesboro, AR · Public

$38,289
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,056
Grads: 32
Acceptance: 69.7%
#25
U

University of Wyoming

Laramie, WY · Public

$38,289
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 97.4%
#26
U

Utah State University

Logan, UT · Public

$37,568
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 93.6%
#27
M

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS · Public

$36,992
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,464
Grads: 31
Acceptance: 76.3%
#28
U

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

$36,852
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 41.6%
#29
C

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY · Private

$36,668
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 8.2%
#30
V

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public

$36,312
2yr Earnings
1yr: $33,134
Grads: 31
Acceptance: 57.0%
#31
U

University of Missouri-Columbia

Columbia, MO · Public

$36,131
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,618
Grads: 30
Acceptance: 77.0%
#32
S

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Carbondale, IL · Public

$35,416
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 90.4%
#33
U

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL · Public

$35,060
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,300
Grads: 34
Acceptance: 43.7%
#34
M

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public

$35,060
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,527
Grads: 43
Acceptance: 83.9%
#35
U

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public

$35,060
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 43.4%
#36
N

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh, NC · Public

$34,526
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,111
Grads: 41
Acceptance: 39.9%
#37
C

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Pomona, CA · Public

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,351
Grads: 41
Acceptance: 73.7%
#38
U

University of Idaho

Moscow, ID · Public

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,655
Grads: 25
Acceptance: 79.1%
#39
M

Montana State University

Bozeman, MT · Public

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,048
Grads: 29
Acceptance: 86.8%
#40
C

Clemson University

Clemson, SC · Public

$33,565
2yr Earnings
1yr: $29,446
Grads: 17
Acceptance: 38.0%
#41
O

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR · Public

$31,915
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,397
Grads: 63
Acceptance: 78.8%
#42
O

Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Bend, OR · Public

$31,915
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,397
Grads: 63
Acceptance: 68.4%
#43
M

Missouri State University-Springfield

Springfield, MO · Public

$31,708
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,180
Grads: 42
Acceptance: 91.0%
#44
U

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL · Public

$31,038
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,036
Grads: 45
Acceptance: 24.0%
#45
D

Delaware Valley University

Doylestown, PA · Private

$30,771
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 92.5%
#46
N

New Mexico State University-Main Campus

Las Cruces, NM · Public

$29,685
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 75.7%
#47
S

SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill

Cobleskill, NY · Public

$26,715
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,927
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 83.3%
#48
U

University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA · Public

$26,353
2yr Earnings
1yr: $29,179
Grads: 16
Acceptance: 62.5%
#49
C

Chadron State College

Chadron, NE ·

$25,967
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,245
Grads: 32
Acceptance: N/A
#50
W

West Virginia University

Morgantown, WV · Public

$25,774
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,545
Grads: 36
Acceptance: 86.3%

Showing top 50 of 56 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations $39,220 Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations $38,923 Computer Software and Media Applications $38,247 Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration $38,044 Special Education and Teaching $37,736 Chemistry $37,316

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Plant Sciences?
Washington State University ranks #1 for Plant Sciences with median graduate earnings of $56,415 within two years. There are 56 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Plant Sciences graduates earn?
Plant Sciences graduates earn an average of $37,230 within two years of graduation. This is near the median across all majors. Earnings range from $21,508 to $56,415 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Plant Sciences program?
The average acceptance rate across Plant Sciences programs is 72.6%. The most selective program is at Cornell University with a 8.2% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Plant Sciences?
Private Plant Sciences programs average $33,720 in early earnings vs $37,575 at public schools. Public schools offer competitive earnings at typically lower cost, making them strong value options.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

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