by our College Data Analytics TeamCan't decide between a career in communications or farming? Don't worry, you don't have to. A major in Agricultural Public Services allows you to follow your passion for news, broadcast, teaching, or communications while still being involved in agriculture. As part of a major in Agriculture Public Services you will take classes in advertising, news writing, broadcast, photojournalism, and editing while also learning about agriculture through classes such as animal and plant science, agribusiness, agriculture economics, and biochemistry.
Maybe you don't want to go into news or broadcast? Along with the option to specialize in Agricultural Communication or Journalism, this major also offers the option to specialize Agricultural and Extension Education Services.
In 2021-2022, agricultural public services was the 250th most popular major nationwide with 867 degrees awarded. Our 2025 Best Agricultural Public Services Schools ranking analyzes 23 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for agricultural public services students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of agricultural public services programs later in this article.
People drawn to this career often have a passion for both communications and farming. Professionals who choose to go into journalism are required to communicate daily with the general public about varying agricultural topics. It is necessary to have the skills to effectively explain and report scientific information so the average person can understand it. This major also suits someone who has strong interpersonal skills. You will be communicating daily with clients, media, farmers, or the general public, so you must be comfortable speaking and working closely with others. Strong writing skills are also a must.
Depending on the type of job you go into, the average workday can vary. News can happen at any time, so depending on your role in the organization, you may not work the typical 40-hour week. Other public services jobs are closer to the typical workweek, but can frequently have long days.
Internships are the best way to prepare for a career in Agricultural Public Services. This gives students the opportunity to gain experience in reporting news or providing consulting and educational services. Journalism and communications recruiters prefer job prospects to have previous experience within the field before being hired.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most agricultural public services degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional agricultural public services certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are various different levels of agricultural public services degrees. Agricultural Public Services programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest agricultural public services degree you can get. Depending on the agricultural public services degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| 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 agricultural public services, with approximately 52.5% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for agricultural public services workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 51.2% |
| Master’s Degree | 18.8% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 7.7% |
| High School Diploma | 7.2% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 6.9% |
About 74.7% of workers in careers related to agricultural public services obtain at least bachelor's degrees. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in agricultural public services careers have.
This of course varies depending on which agricultural public services career you choose.
As an Agricultural Public Services graduate, you have the ability to work for both farming media outlets and non-specialized outlets. Depending on the type of media classes you take, you may find a career in broadcast, newspapers, magazines, television, and radio. Some Agricultural Public Services majors decide to work in an advertising or public relations office or provide referral, consulting, and educational services to others within agribusiness.
Want a job when you graduate with your agricultural public services degree? Agricultural Public Services careers are expected to grow 4.5% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to agricultural public services.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designers | 277,400 | 4.2% |
| Audio and Video Equipment Technicians | 94,000 | 12.8% |
| Reporters and Correspondents | 40,200 | -10.1% |
| Farm and Home Management Advisors | 11,200 | 7.7% |
Agricultural Public Services graduates between <nil> reported earning an average of $44,593 in the <nil> timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $23,221 to as high as $57,323. As you might expect, salaries for agricultural public services graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for agricultural public services graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers agricultural public services grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Reporters and Correspondents | $55,530 |
| Graphic Designers | $54,680 |
| Farm and Home Management Advisors | $52,700 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Technicians | $48,940 |
With over 81 different agricultural public services 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 agricultural public services school rankings to help you with this.
One of 18 majors within the Agriculture & Agriculture Operations area of study, Agricultural Public Services has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Communication/Journalism | 489 |
| Agricultural & Extension Education Services | 324 |
| Agricultural Public Services, Other | 54 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | 8,951 |
| Animal Science | 8,178 |
| Agricultural Economics & Business | 8,140 |
| Horticulture | 3,591 |
| Veterinary Medicine | 3,468 |
Image Credit: By Bob Nichols under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
