by our College Data Analytics TeamAgroecology & Sustainable Agriculture was the 617th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 552 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 3.4% reduction in agroecology degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 571.
This year's Best Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture Schools ranking compares 22 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of agroecology programs later in this article.
When studying Agroecology, you’ll learn that talking to others to convey information effectively will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times are all required skills for careers related to this major.
agroecology and sustainable agriculture degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. In addition to these basic agroecology and sustainable agriculture program qualifications, to serve in some agroecology careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are various different levels of agroecology degrees. You can get anything from a in agroecology and sustainable agriculture to the highest agroecology degree, a . Different agroecology and sustainable agriculture degrees vary in how long they take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to agroecology, with approximately 25.4% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for agroecology workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 27.4% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 22.2% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 12.1% |
| High School Diploma | 10.3% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 8.0% |
Most workers in agroecology have at least a bachelor's degree. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in agroecology and sustainable agriculture have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the agroecology career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your agroecology degree?
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to agroecology and sustainable agriculture.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Agricultural Managers | 1,020,700 | -0.8% |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Worker Supervisors | 49,700 | 2.1% |
| Conservation Scientists | 23,700 | 6.3% |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | 21,700 | 9.0% |
| Agricultural Sciences Professors | 13,600 | 7.9% |
As you might expect, salaries for agroecology graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for agroecology and sustainable agriculture graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers agroecology grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Forestry & Conservation Science Professors | $92,550 |
| Agricultural Sciences Professors | $90,890 |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Agricultural Managers | $79,940 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $70,630 |
| Conservation Scientists | $65,320 |
With over 128 different agroecology degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased agroecology school rankings to help you with this.
Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture is one of 7 different types of Agricultural Production programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Animal/Livestock Husbandry & Production | 878 |
| Agricultural Production Operations | 605 |
| Horse Husbandry/Equine Science & Management | 436 |
| Crop Production | 350 |
| Aquaculture | 148 |
