Within agriculture, there are a variety of studies. Courses such as animal science, horticulture, property management, estate planning, zoology, and environmental preservation are all studied. The fields are boundless and offer a number of career paths in any one area.
Are you interested in science? Study biology, physics, and chemistry. Is business more your interest? The finance and management aspects of agriculture are crucial. There are many options available to graduates in agriculture. From a farm owner to an agribusiness marketing and sales representative, there are many varieties of career possibilities out there. These high ranked online Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Agriculture provide these options on the top educational levels.
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To learn more: Best Online Degrees in Agribusiness
Best Online Agricultural Diplomas and Certificates
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Best Online Agricultural Science Degrees
METHODOLOGY: A career in Agricultural Science provides many fun and exciting opportunities. As you review the following school options, you are sure to locate a program that is designed to fit your schedule and career aspirations. As they all display unique degree offerings, we have chosen to list them in random order based on the following components:
- 100% Online or Hybrid learning format,
- Offers a wide variety of learning topics within the field of Agricultural Science,
- Prepares the Master’s degree graduate for positions in leadership and management,
- Combines the field of biology with economics, including research and development of things agricultural-related,
- Properly Accredited,
- Financial Aid options; such as Grants, Military Discounts, and Scholarship opportunities,
- Provides advisors to help students design a degree plan applicable to their career goals,
- Sharpens skills in agricultural economics, agribusiness and agricultural education,
- Has positive reviews from students and other reputable academic sources.
To learn more, please see our Methodology page.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)
Online Master’s Degree in Agricultural & Life Sciences
Program Standouts:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute, known as Virginia Tech offers a Master’s Degree in Agricultural and Life Sciences. The program provides scientific-based courses for professionals in agriculture, life sciences, and related fields. The degree is intended primarily for professionals who would like to pursue an advanced degree but are not able to travel or relocate. It offers many different focuses for specializations in various fields of agriculture. Students are required to take a set of core courses and must also select an area of concentration.
Campus Location: Blacksburg, VA
Accreditation:
- Accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Acceptance and Graduation Rates:
- Acceptance Rate: 70.1%
- Graduation Rate: 83.2%
Types of Aid: As of 2017, financial aid includes: federal and private loans; federal and state grants; institutional and external scholarship opportunities; military and veterans’ benefits. Not all students qualify for financial aid and/or grants.
Admission Requirements:
- Application
- $75 Application Fee
- Transcripts
- Letters of Recommendation
- Graduate School Testing Requirements
Program Options:
Five concentration options build upon a required core curriculum:
- Education
- Environmental Science
- Food Safety and Biosecurity
- Leadership Studies
- Plant Science and Pest Management
- Applied Nutrition and Health Sciences
Degree Outcomes:
Successful candidates in the program should be able to:
- Locate, access, and evaluate research literature in the field
- Describe the role that human interaction has on agriculture and the life sciences
- Delineate how human learning, perceptions, and behaviors impact agricultural and life sciences globally
- Develop and implement theoretically sound programs that promote the advancement of agricultural and life sciences among industry professionals and the general public
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MASTER’S DEGREE IN AGRICULTURAL AND LIFE SCIENCES AT VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
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University of Tennessee Martin
Online BS in Agriculture Degree
Program Standouts:
The University of Tennessee at Martin is one of the few schools to offer a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture completely online. The purpose of the program is to help American farmers to respond to the increasing demand for agricultural products. The farm and ranch management option is designed for students who are interested in the applied aspects of the agricultural industry. Farm and ranch management offers students the capability of understanding and making good technical decisions in response to the demand for agricultural products. Because agriculture is becoming more technical and business-oriented, students who are interested in agriculture receive training in both farming and business. Agriculture and agricultural economics at the University of Tennessee Martin are taught in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences. Most business techniques are taught in the College of Business and Global Affairs.
Campus Location: Martin, Tennessee
Accreditation:
- Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Acceptance and Graduation Rates:
- 61.5% Admission Rate
- 44% Graduation Rate
Types of Aid: As of 2017, financial aid includes: federal and private loans; federal and state grants; institutional and external scholarship opportunities; military and veterans’ benefits. Not all students qualify for financial aid and/or grants.
Admission Requirements:
- Application
- Application Fee
- A composite score of 21 or above on the ACT or 980 SAT
- A cumulative high school grade point average of 2.7 or above
Program Options:
Students may choose the Farm and Ranch Management in the Bachelor of Agriculture Degree.
Degree Outcomes:
Some of the career opportunities available for those who complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture are:
- Agricultural chemical sales
- Feedlot manager
- Farm manager
- Farm equipment sales
- Government services
- Financial services
- Market analyst
- Grain and feed industries
- Transportation
- Foreign trade
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN AGRICULTURE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE MARTIN
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Oregon State University
Online BS in Agricultural Sciences
Program Standouts:
Oregon State University is well known for its successful agricultural programs, ranking 9th in an international survey. It is also known for having successful online delivery of its programs. The Oregon State University Ecampus earned a top 10 ranking for the third year in a row on a list of America’s best online bachelor’s programs. Oregon State combines these two strengths to offer a 100% online Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Sciences. The agricultural sciences online program at Oregon State University allows students to customize their curriculum and emphasize study areas such as crop and soil science or agricultural business management. The program is geared toward new students but also accommodates the experienced farmer or rancher. The agricultural sciences major allows students to identify the most interesting agricultural career to them. Students can then develop a course of study in order to achieve those goals.
Campus Location: Corvallis, Oregon
Accreditation:
- Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Acceptance and Graduation Rates:
- Acceptance Rate: 78.8%
- Graduation Rate: 63.6%
Types of Aid: As of 2017, financial aid includes: federal and private loans; federal and state grants; institutional and external scholarship opportunities; military and veterans’ benefits. Not all students qualify for financial aid and/or grants.
Admission Requirements:
- Application Fee
- Application
- SAT or ACT scores
- High School Diploma or equivalent
Program Course Sample:
- Management in Agriculture
- Agricultural Law
- World Food Crops
- Introductory Animal/Rangeland Sciences
- Organic Farming and Gardening
- Environmental Economics and Policy
Degree Outcomes:
Because of the diversity of the program at Oregon State University, graduates will be qualified to work in jobs as diverse as:
- County extension service youth agent
- High school agriculture teacher
- Loan officer
- Farmer or rancher
- Government agency employee
Recommended Schools
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BACHELOR’S OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AT OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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Colorado State University
Master’s of Agriculture – Agricultural Science – Integrated Resource Management Specialization Distance Learning Program
Program Standouts:
Colorado State University offers a Master’s of Agriculture – Agricultural Science – Integrated Resource Management Specialization. The degree blends animal science, business, range science, ecology, wildlife, policy, and human resources. It is a multi-disciplined program that combines topics to teach students how agricultural resource systems work together. It also teaches students to apply these systems in an agricultural management setting. The focus of the agricultural degree at Colorado State University is on long-term resource sustainability solutions for the agricultural industry.
Campus Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
Accreditation:
- Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Acceptance and Graduation Rates:
- Acceptance Rate: 82.6%
- Graduation Rate: 66.4%
Types of Aid:
- Federal Financial Aid
- Scholarships
- Military Discounts
- Veterans’ Benefits
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Cumulative 3.0-grade point average
Program Sample Courses:
- Animal Production Systems
- Integrated Forage Management
- Building the Business
Degree Outcomes:
The online Master’s in Agriculture at the University of Colorado gives its students the knowledge and skills necessary to operate an agricultural business efficiently and sustainably without sacrificing profits.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MASTER’S IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AT COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
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Murray State University
Online MS Degree in Agriculture
Program Standouts:
With very high national rankings, the Hutson School of Agriculture at Murray State University has a long tradition of agricultural and academic excellence. The School of Agriculture offers a 100% online Master of Science in Agriculture degree. The purpose of the degree is to give an opportunity for agricultural professionals to acquire an education at the graduate level or to be equipped for continuing on to a terminal degree. Depending on the student’s interests, the faculty will guide their studies into a variety of emphases in their degrees. The following focuses are available within the Master of Science in Agriculture Degree:
- Agribusiness Economics
- Agriculture Education
- Sustainable Agriculture
- Veterinary Hospital Management
Campus Location: Murray, Kentucky
Accreditation:
- Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; Commission on Colleges
Acceptance and Graduation Rates:
- Acceptance Rate: 86.7%
- Graduation Rate: 48.5%
Types of Aid:
- Grants
- Loans
- State Scholarships
Admission Requirements:
- Application
- GMAT or GRE score report
- Copy of valid teaching certificate if available
Program Course Sample:
For those who do not wish to pursue an emphasis, the following programs are an example of the Master’s of Science in Agriculture:
- Research in Agriculture
- Computer Applications in Agriculture
- Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis
Degree Outcomes:
Students who graduate with a Master’s Degree in Agriculture from Murray State University will have the knowledge and tools to do adequate research as well as design, statistical analysis, and graduate computer applications in the field of agriculture.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MASTER’S OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN AGRICULTURE FROM MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What kind of career should I consider with an online Master’s degree in Agricultural Science?
Due to the nature of this multi-disciplined degree, your online Master of Agricultural Science degree will afford you many exciting opportunities. To give you a few examples, consider a position as an Agricultural Economist. This position provides a variety of job duties, such as conducting research, business consulting, and land appraising, as well as crop predicting. The average salary for an Agricultural Economist is $104,340 annually to upwards of $182,560 per year with experience.
The Agricultural Operations Manager is tasked with the overall operations of large agricultural establishments. The day-to-day operations are conducted smoothly by the Operations Manager, as well as staff management and inventory. The average pay for an Operations Manager in the field of agriculture ranges between $67,960 and $136,940 annually, depending on experience and job location.
If you have an interest in law, along with agriculture, your services as an Agricultural Lawyer can help farmers and landowners mitigate disputes handling issues regarding environmental protection, agricultural infrastructure, insurance, and labor laws. In addition to earning a lucrative living at approximately $115,820 annually, the personal satisfaction of helping those in need is worth so much more.
Agricultural Engineers work to design and develop machinery so farmers can do their jobs efficiently and effectively. They earn approximately $75,000 per year as they ensure equipment meets government safety and performance regulations. Also, there are many other rewarding careers in the field of Agricultural Science for you to consider, as well.
What will I learn in an online Master of Agricultural Science degree program?
An online Master’s degree in Agriculture Science will catapult your career, without a doubt. Management and leadership positions often require an impressive graduate degree in Agriculture Science to excel.
Through an online Master of Agricultural Science degree program, you can expect to expand on your current knowledge and skill set. You’ll focus on rural development, research and analysis, natural resources management, agriculture education, plant physiology, agricultural economics, and crop and soil science, among many other ag-related topics designed to help you lead in any specialization you choose. Typically, you will be required to complete a thesis project.
Do I need additional certifications or state licensing to pursue a career in Agricultural Science?
Depending on your career focus, specific state licensing or other requirements may be required, especially when working with food crops and pesticides. As each state has its own government regulations, you will need to check on the possible mandates applicable to your state.
If you would like to add to your accolades, many certifications are available to help you add to your marketability. Certifications help you excel in your field, and employers look favorably upon your dedication and commitment to the area of agriculture through these informative certification classes. In most cases, certifications will require a minimum degree and a minimum number of years of work experience to participate. Exams are also required to obtain your certification.
The American Society of Agronomy offers a few certifications to consider, such as for the Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) or the Certified Professional Agronomist (CPAg), or if you are interested in soil science, go for the Certified Professional Soil Scientist/Classifier certification presented by the Soil Society of America.
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