Botanist Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a botanist. Botanists usually study biology, environmental science, or botany. 74% of botanists hold a bachelor's degree, and 12% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 275 real botanist resumes to see exactly what botanist education sections show.

The most common colleges for botanists are the Humboldt State University and the Humboldt State University.

There are also many online botanist courses to help get the education required to be a botanist.

What education do you need to become a botanist?

What degree do you need to be a botanist?

The most common degree for botanists is bachelor's degree, with 74% of botanists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 12% and master's degree degree at 5%.
  • Bachelor's, 74%
  • Master's, 12%
  • Associate, 5%
  • Doctorate, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become a botanist?

You should major in biology to become a botanist. 38% of botanists major in biology. Other common majors for a botanist include environmental science and botany.

Most common colleges for botanists

Botanists often get their degrees at Humboldt State University, University of Florida, and Northern Arizona University. Here are the most common colleges for botanists in the US based on their resumes.
Botanist Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
Humboldt State University12.70%
University of Florida9.52%
Northern Arizona University6.35%
Appalachian State University6.35%
Weber State University6.35%

Best majors for botanists

Best colleges for botanists

The best colleges for botanists are Duke University, Northwestern University, and Stanford University.

A botanist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for botanists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become botanists.

1. University of California - Davis

Davis, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$14,402

Enrollment

30,698

Website

ucdavis.edu

Address

One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616-8678

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $45,300 per year

Net Price: $14,729 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 41.07%
SAT Average - 1292
ACT Average - 28
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Environmental Science
Graphic Design
Chemistry
Ecology, Population Biology, And Epidemiology

2. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-State Tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

Website

https://twin-cities.umn.edu

Address

202 Morrill Hall, 100 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455-0213

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $46,000 per year

Net Price: $17,479 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 51.87%
SAT Average - 1336
ACT Average - 29
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Psychology
Environmental Science
Graphic Design
Natural Resources Management

3. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,381

Enrollment

34,564

Website

www.ufl.edu/

Address

300 SW 13th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,700 per year

Net Price: $8,057 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 38.75%
SAT Average - 1362
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Psychology
Environmental Science
Chemistry
Plant Sciences

4. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

Website

www.cornell.edu

Address

300 Day Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $76,300 per year

Net Price: $30,494 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 10.61%
SAT Average - 1471
ACT Average - 33
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Environmental Science
Chemistry
Psychology
Plant Sciences

5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

Website

www.unc.edu

Address

103 South Bldg Campus Box 9100, Chapel Hill, NC 27599

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $49,900 per year

Net Price: $13,918 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 22.71%
SAT Average - 1398
ACT Average - 31
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Psychology
Environmental Science
Chemistry
Education

20 best online courses for botanists

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Top 10 most affordable universities for botanists

The most affordable schools for botanists are University of Florida, hunter college of the city university of new york, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for botanists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for botanists.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,381

Cost of Attendance

21,034

Website

www.ufl.edu/

Address

300 SW 13th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,700 per year

Net Price: $8,057 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 38.75%
SAT Average - 1362
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Psychology
Environmental Science
Chemistry
Plant Sciences

2. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,182

Cost of Attendance

13,998

Website

www.hunter.cuny.edu

Address

695 Park Ave, New York, NY 10021

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,300 per year

Net Price: $2,796 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 36.42%
SAT Average - 1240
Most Popular Majors
Education
Psychology
Interdisciplinary Studies
General Education, Specific Areas
Biology

3. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,798

Cost of Attendance

18,306

Website

www.csulb.edu

Address

1250 Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90840-0115

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $40,000 per year

Net Price: $8,982 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 31.21%
SAT Average - 1146
ACT Average - 23
Most Popular Majors
Psychology
Biology
Education
Graphic Design
Environmental Science

4. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,886

Cost of Attendance

17,645

Website

www.fullerton.edu

Address

800 N State College Blvd, Fullerton, CA 92831-3599

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,500 per year

Net Price: $8,234 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 43.41%
SAT Average - 1124
ACT Average - 22
Most Popular Majors
Education
Psychology
Elementary Education
Biology
Graphic Design

5. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,620

Cost of Attendance

18,136

Website

www.byu.edu

Address

Main Campus, Provo, UT 84602

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $46,600 per year

Net Price: $13,181 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 64.47%
SAT Average - 1324
ACT Average - 29
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Psychology
Graphic Design
Ecology, Population Biology, And Epidemiology
Geography

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for botanists

The hardest universities for botanists to get into are Duke University, Northwestern University, and Stanford University.

Some great schools for botanists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for botanists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions Rate

9%

SAT Average

1,516

Website

WWW.DUKE.EDU

Address

103 Allen Bldg, Durham, NC 27708

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $93,200 per year

Net Price: $23,442 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.91%
SAT Average - 1516
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Environmental Science
Psychology
Chemistry
Education

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,508

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Psychology
Education
Chemistry
Environmental Science

3. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

4%

SAT Average

1,497

Website

www.stanford.edu/

Address

450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305-2061

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $92,800 per year

Net Price: $12,265 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.36%
SAT Average - 1497
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Education
Interdisciplinary Studies
Geology
Chemistry

4. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions Rate

11%

SAT Average

1,513

Website

www.jhu.edu

Address

3400 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21218-2688

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $68,000 per year

Net Price: $30,701 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 11.48%
SAT Average - 1513
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Biology
Ecology, Population Biology, And Epidemiology
Chemistry
Geography

5. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

5%

SAT Average

1,520

Website

www.harvard.edu

Address

Massachusetts Hall, Cambridge, MA 02138

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,300 per year

Net Price: $15,561 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.73%
SAT Average - 1520
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Biology
Environmental Science
Ecology, Population Biology, And Epidemiology
Interdisciplinary Studies

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for botanists

The easiest schools for botanists to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, curry college, and wayland baptist university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a botanist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for botanists.

1. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

84%

SAT Average

1,031

Website

https://www.msmu.edu

Address

12001 Chalon Road, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $57,700 per year

Net Price: $29,267 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 83.82%
SAT Average - 1031
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Education
Liberal Arts
Biology
Elementary Education
Ecology, Population Biology, And Epidemiology

2. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

93%

SAT Average

1,026

Website

https://www.curry.edu

Address

1071 Blue Hill Ave, Milton, MA 02186-2395

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $44,800 per year

Net Price: $30,293 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 92.71%
SAT Average - 1026
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Psychology
Education
Biology
Liberal Arts
Elementary Education

3. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

98%

SAT Average

1,003

Website

www.wbu.edu

Address

1900 W 7th St., Plainview, TX 79072

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,300 per year

Net Price: $21,855 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 98.04%
SAT Average - 1003
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Education
Elementary Education
Biology
Psychology

4. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions Rate

91%

SAT Average

1,006

Website

www.barry.edu

Address

11300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami Shores, FL 33161-6695

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $43,700 per year

Net Price: $17,937 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 91.25%
SAT Average - 1006
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Education
Liberal Arts
Psychology
General Education, Specific Areas

5. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions Rate

84%

SAT Average

1,069

Website

www.sjcme.edu

Address

278 White's Bridge Road, Standish, ME 04084-5263

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $42,500 per year

Net Price: $26,405 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 83.62%
SAT Average - 1069
ACT Average - 21
Most Popular Majors
Education
Biology
Liberal Arts
Elementary Education
General Education, Specific Areas

Average botanist salary by education level

Botanists with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $60,639 annually. With a Master's degree, botanists earn a median annual income of $52,484 compared to $47,933 for botanists with an Bachelor's degree.
Botanist education level
ascdesc
Botanist salary
ascdesc
Master's Degree$52,484
Bachelor's Degree$47,933
Doctorate Degree$60,639

Botanist Education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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