Welcome from the Chair

It's a great time to consider a career in agriculture! The United States Department of Agriculture estimates there will be 57,900 job openings annually for graduates with a bachelor's or higher degree in agriculture, renewable natural resources, and environmental sciences. However, there are only 35,400 graduates annually from these programs, filling only 61% of these positions . And while starting salaries vary, in 2016 the average salary of a graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture/Natural Resources earned approximately $48,700 

A degree from the Illinois State University Department of Agriculture will help prepare graduates for jobs in this exciting industry. The Department offers programs of study in Agribusiness, Agriculture Teacher Education, Animal Science, Animal Industry Management, Pre-Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture Communications and Leadership, Crop and Soil Science, Agronomy Management, Horticulture and Landscape Management, and Food Industry. The Department encourages students to participate in internships to put classroom theory into practice and further explore career opportunities in agriculture. The department is also home to approximately ten registered student organizations that enable student's opportunities for professional development in their area of study.

I invite you to explore the Department's website to investigate the many opportunities available to our students. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your future in agriculture at Illinois State University, please contact us at Agriculture@IllinoisState.edu.