by our College Data Analytics TeamL&scaping & Groundskeeping was the 670th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 781 degrees in this year alone. This 97 less than the prior year, a decrease of 12.4%.
This year's Best L&scaping & Groundskeeping Schools ranking compares 11 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom landscaping and groundskeeping rankings further below.
A major in landscaping and groundskeeping prepares you for careers in which 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 is crucial. Required skills include using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and talking to others to convey information effectively.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific landscaping and groundskeeping careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
Landscaping and Groundskeeping degree levels vary. You can get anything from a in landscaping and groundskeeping to the highest landscaping and groundskeeping degree, a . Depending on the landscaping and groundskeeping 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 doctor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to landscaping and groundskeeping, with approximately 18.4% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for landscaping and groundskeeping workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 22.8% |
| Doctoral Degree | 18.5% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 12.9% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 9.2% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 9.0% |
59.7% of landscaping and groundskeeping workers have at least a associate. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in landscaping and groundskeeping careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the landscaping and groundskeeping career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your landscaping and groundskeeping degree? L&scaping & Groundskeeping careers are expected to grow 10.6% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to landscaping and groundskeeping.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Supervisors | 198,600 | 11.4% |
| Pesticide Applicators | 41,000 | 7.9% |
| Agricultural Sciences Professors | 13,600 | 7.9% |
As you might expect, salaries for landscaping and groundskeeping graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for landscaping and groundskeeping graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers landscaping and groundskeeping grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences Professors | $90,890 |
| Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Supervisors | $51,280 |
| Pesticide Applicators | $38,210 |
With over 202 different landscaping and groundskeeping 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 landscaping and groundskeeping school rankings to help you with this.
L&scaping & Groundskeeping is one of 7 different types of Horticulture programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations | 1,617 |
| Turf & Turfgrass Management | 340 |
| Ornamental Horticulture | 160 |
| Plant Nursery Operations & Management | 121 |
| Greenhouse Operations & Management | 78 |
