College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Botany/Plant Biology Degree Guide

Do you love learning about plants and how things grow? There are millions of plant varieties growing on our green earth. Major in Botany / Plant Biology to study these plants. You will learn how they function, what they look like, how they are related, where they grow, how they have evolved, and how people use plants.

The many plants on our earth serve vital functions for human survival. For starters, we need plants for energy and for oxygen. These powerful and beautiful organisms are also used to create many of the remedies and medicines we use today. Plants are so powerful they can affect climate, the water cycle, and our everyday life. As a Botany Major you get to immerse yourself in this incredible world.

Courses that you will come across in this major include: biochemistry, field ecology, genetics, microbiology, photosynthesis, the study of algae, plant anatomy, plant physiology, plant evolution, plant taxonomy, and the study of ferns.

Concentrations in botany include: Botany/Plant Biology, Plant Pathology, Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology.

Botany/Plant Biology Degrees Shrinking in Popularity

#259 Most Popular Major
691 Degrees Awarded
-5.6% Increase in Graduates

In 2020-2021, botany/plant biology was the 259th most popular major nationwide with 691 degrees awarded. This represents a 5.6% reduction in botany degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 730.

Our 2023 Best Botany/Plant Biology Schools ranking analyzes 49 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for botany/plant biology students. Explore this or one of our many other custom botany rankings further below.

2023 Best Colleges for Botany/Plant Biology
2023 Overall Best Botany/Plant Biology Colleges >

Best Botany/Plant Biology Schools by Degree

Associate Degrees in Botany/Plant Biology
Bachelor's Degrees in Botany/Plant Biology
Master's Degrees in Botany/Plant Biology
Doctorate Degrees in Botany/Plant Biology

What Are The Requirements For a Degree in Botany/Plant Biology

If you like to hike, garden or camp, it could be an indication that you will enjoy this major. Students should have a love for nature and the environment. Botany will require field work where you will observe plants in their natural habitat.

Classes will include both lectures and labs. Lab work will help reinforce what you learn during lectures. Students will learn how to completely break down the biological systems of a particular plant. This will provide you the ability to learn plant anatomy, organization of their cells and plant organs. Your classes will require you to write lab reports, so you will need strong writing skills. You will also take exams with short answer questions.

Students should be comfortable working on group projects, as well as spend many hours on their own doing research in a lab. We suggest forming study groups to work through difficult problems. Don't be afraid to speak to your professors; they are here to help you succeed. You will work through real world problems with your professors, such as the extinction of certain plants and the invasion of others and how we can change it.

Prior Education for a Botany Program

A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most botany degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional botany certifications required to pursue a career in this field.

Types of Botany/Plant Biology Degrees

There are various different levels of botany degrees. You can spend many years getting as high as a in botany/plant biology to something that takes less time like a . How long it takes to complete some common botany degree levels is shown below.

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 botany, with approximately 36.7% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to botany tend obtained the following education levels.

Level of Education Percentage of Workers
Bachelor’s Degree 35.6%
Doctoral Degree 19.9%
Master’s Degree 18.8%
Post-Doctoral Training 17.0%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) 2.4%

55.0% of botany workers have at least a master's. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in botany/plant biology have obtained.

undefined

This of course varies depending on which botany career you choose.

Career Opportunities for A Degree In Botany Graduate

Average Number of Jobs
$27.6k Average Starting Salary
12% Growth Job Outlook 2016-26

A major in Botany/Plant Science provides graduates with a broad set of skills they can use in a variety of careers. Graduates can become marine or freshwater biologists, or work on farms or in a tropical forest developing new medicines. Graduates also find work in museums, botanical gardens or arboretums. Other positions include workers for the U.S. Forest Service. This degree will allow you work in many different fields because it is very diverse. Some botanists will earn their Ph.D., however that is not necessary unless you want to conduct research or teach at a college. Those with advanced degrees are often able to obtain higher-paying positions.

Solid Growth Projected for Botany Careers

Want a job when you graduate with your botany degree? Botany/Plant Biology careers are expected to grow 11.5% between 2016 and 2026.

The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to botany/plant biology.

Occupation Name Projected Jobs Expected Growth
Biological Science Professors 71,700 15.1%
Natural Sciences Managers 62,300 9.9%
Biological Scientists 41,800 8.0%

How Much Money Do People With a Botany Degree Make?

Botany/Plant Biology graduates between 2017-2019 reported earning an average of $27,599 in the 2019-2020 timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $25,191 to as high as $30,520. As you might expect, salaries for botany graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.

undefined

High Paying Careers for Botany Majors

Salaries for botany/plant biology graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers botany grads often go into.

Occupation Name Median Average Salary
Natural Sciences Managers $139,680
Biological Science Professors $97,340
Biological Scientists $83,600

Getting Your Botany/Plant Biology Degree

With over 204 different botany 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 botany school rankings to help you with this.

Botany/Plant Biology is one of 14 different types of Biological & Biomedical Sciences programs to choose from.

Botany Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Botany 445
Plant Pathology/Phytopathology 175
Other Botany/Plant Biology 46
Plant Molecular Biology 15
Plant Physiology 10

View All Botany Focus Areas >

Related Major Annual Graduates
General Biology 107,165
Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology 14,535
Neurobiology & Neurosciences 11,615
Physiology & Pathology Sciences 8,813
Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology 7,247

View All Botany Related Majors >

References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options