Agricultural Colleges and Universities

Guide to Agricultural Colleges and Universities

Agriculture universities throughout the US
By Geraldine McGowan

Agriculture colleges and agriculture universities (formerly known as land grant colleges) were originally funded by the US government in the late 1800's. There are approximately 100 agricultural colleges and universities in the US. Fields of study include agriculture and natural resources, agricultural finance, and governmental and conservation agencies. Related fields include the economics of agriculture, agriculture education and international agriculture.

Most agricultural colleges have on-campus farms, gardens and animal programs. Today, agricultural colleges and universities are invested in such things as bio-diversity in order to meet the challenges of growing food without chemicals and using less land to grow food. Many have research labs, cooperatives and extension programs. Most schools offer two-year and four-year programs resulting in associate or bachelor degrees.

1. Agriculture universities exist in all areas of the United States. Some colleges are strictly agricultural, others are schools of agriculture connected with a larger university.

2. Requirements for schools include a high school education or GED with English courses, science courses and sometimes math courses.

3. Many schools offer internships, including international internships.

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Begin with a list of agricultural colleges In order to best determine where you want to go, you first need to know which agricultural colleges and universities in the United States are in your area.

I recommend:  Use a list of agricultural universities and colleges such as the one from One Globe to get started. In order to get a feel for an agricultural education, take a look at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's website; it is broken down into the different agricultural concerns and will give you a good idea what kind of career you can have after graduation.

Look for the best agricultural universities in your area Agricultural education can provide you with a great career. The best agriculture colleges really comes down to the colleges and universities that have the programs that suit your career needs. Most colleges have strong alumni associations. It may be possible for you to speak with some alumni and get their feedback on the school you're interested in.

I recommend:  Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences is one of the oldest in the US and rated as one of the top ten US agricultural colleges. If you're unsure exactly where you wish to focus your education, a larger school can give you a wider range of samples than a smaller school. It is also possible to get a Master's and Ph.D. in agriculture. One of the colleges that offers higher level programs is the University of New Hampshire.

Determine your course of study at the agricultural university If your interest lies in exotic fauna, the school you want to go to probably exists warmer climes. If you're interested in forests, you may want to go somewhere wooded.

I recommend:  The University of Hawaii at Manoa is the only US school with a rain forest botanical garden. The University of Alaska offers programs in forest and wildlife biology.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Careers in agriculture will continue to grow as the world's population and resources continue to change. Don't hesitate to visit campuses, ask to speak with alumni, and find out about financial aid and career resources after graduation from one of the best agricultural colleges.