Top 21 Cannabis Agriculture Degree Programs

The top Cannabis Agriculture programs include certificates, degrees, and classes offered at community colleges, traditional colleges, universities, and career schools. New education programs focus on specific parts of the cannabis sector.

1. Santa Rosa Junior College

The Associate of Science in Hemp Agriculture at Santa Rosa Junior College provides a comprehensive foundation for students seeking positions in the hemp industry. The program delivers both lecture and hands-on laboratory experience. Topics include Plant science, growth, and development; soil and plant nutrition; integrated pest management; nursery and crop production; irrigation methods, system design, and troubleshooting; and Principles of sustainable agriculture. Courses offer contextualized units specific to aspects of the hemp plant. This program of study is also available as a certificate option.

Campus Location: Santa Rosa, California
Program: Hemp Agriculture (AS)
Credit: 26
Delivery: campus
Program Cost: $46 per-unit (more)
Interested: Click here to find out more!

2. Pennsylvania Institute of Technology

The cannabis horticulture associate degree program at the Pennsylvania Institute of Technology prepares graduates to start a business, work for a dispensary, or manage a growing and extraction operation. Additionally, students can transfer credits to a university if they want to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Campus Location: Pennsylvania
Program: Associate degree in Cannabis Horticulture
Credit: 60 credits
Delivery: in-person or online
Institutional Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Program Cost: $485 per credit hour
Interested: Click here to find out more!

3. University of Connecticut

Campus Location: Storrs, Connecticut
Program: 2 Cannabis Horticulture Courses
Credit: 3 credits each
Delivery: Online
Institutional Accreditation:
Program Cost: varies
Interested: Click here to find out more!

Each summer, UConn offers two Horticulture of Cannabis courses. Online Horticulture of Cannabis Courses at UConn are Introduction to the Horticulture of Cannabis and Advanced Cannabis Horticulture: Production and Industry. The two 3-credit courses can be completed 100% online from anywhere in the world and are designed to provide intensive overviews of the horticultural techniques used to grow and manage this medically important and high-value crop.

4. Finger Lakes Community College

Campus Location: Canandaigua, New York
Program: Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Horticulture: Cannabis Biology and Cultivation Track
Credit: 60 credits
Delivery: in person
Institutional Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Program Cost: $220 per credit (more)
Interested: Click here to find out more!

This new track combines our core horticulture courses with three cannabis-specific classes, so you can pursue green professions within this emerging industry. The cannabis-specific courses blend classroom learning and seminars with hands-on training in cannabis biology and cultivation. Regional experts, growers, and professionals will provide first-hand knowledge of the regulatory and legal frameworks in cannabis cultivation and distribution. Graduates are ready for a career in cannabis or the horticulture industry.

5. Niagara County Community College

Campus Location: Canandaigua, New York
Program: Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Horticulture with an emphasis in Cannabis
Credit: 60 credits
Delivery: Face-to-Face on Campus or Asynchronous Web-Based
Institutional Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Program Cost: $220 per credit (more)
Interested: Click here to find out more!

The NCCC Horticulture program provides students with the knowledge, skills, and field experience necessary to excel in their careers and build a greener community. Coursework is based on real-world projects similar to those professionals encounter in the industry. Cannabis-based courses can also be taken on a non-credit/non-degree basis through the NCCC Office of Workforce Development.

6. Piedmont Virginia Community College

Campus Location: Charlottesville, Virginia
Program: class Certified Cannabis Horticulture Specialist
Credit: NA
Delivery: online
Institutional Accreditation: NA
Program Cost: $995
Interested: Click here to find out more!

This comprehensive course is designed to help you start your career as a cannabis horticulture specialist. The Certified Cannabis Horticulture Specialist (CCHS) certification exam prepares individuals for a career in the cannabis horticulture industry.

7. Columbia-Green Community College

Campus Location: Hudson, NY
Program: Cannabis Cultivation and Processing Microcredential
Credit: 9 credits
Delivery: in person
Institutional Accreditation: NA
Program Cost: $639
Interested: Click here to find out more!

The 9-credit Cannabis Cultivation and Processing Microcredential introduces students to a wide variety of positions related to cannabis cultivation and processing. It is designed for those with farming backgrounds to prepare for an industry shift and for those new to growing and agricultural manufacturing.

8. Northwest Missouri State University

Campus Location: Maryville, MO
Program: Cannabis Agriculture and Horticulture Certificate
Credit: 3 classes
Delivery: online
Institutional Accreditation: NA
Program Cost: $2,950
Interested: Click here to find out more!

Partnered with Green Flower, Northwest Missouri State University offers a Cannabis Agriculture and Horticulture Certificate. Students learn how to care for cannabis plants, study cannabis botany and genetics, and explore plant growth techniques. This program provides both novice and experienced growers with the accurate information needed to effectively engage in cannabis production, management, and cultivation.

9. Northern Michigan University

Campus Location: Marquette, Michigan
Program: Cannabis Agriculture and Horticulture Certificate
Credit: 3 classes
Delivery: online
Institutional Accreditation: NA
Program Cost: $2,750
Interested: Click here to find out more!

Northern Michigan University offers a Cannabis Agriculture and Horticulture Certificate. This program covers the fundamental principles of cannabis agriculture, from seed selection and germination techniques to proper soil composition and nutrient management. It is comprehensive and affordable, and it lasts 24 weeks.

10. Mount Aloysius College

Campus Location: Cresson, PA
Program: Cannabis Agriculture and Horticulture Certificate
Credit: 3 classes
Delivery: online
Institutional Accreditation: NA
Program Cost: $2,300
Interested: Click here to find out more!

In six months, you’ll learn how to care for cannabis plants, study cannabis botany and genetics, and explore plant growth techniques. This program provides both novice and experienced growers with the accurate information needed to effectively engage in cannabis production, management, and cultivation.

11. SUNY Morrisville

Campus Location: Morrisville, NY
Program: Specialty Crops & Cannabis Production Certificate program
Credit: 15 credits
Delivery: in person
Institutional Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Program Cost: $471 per credit
Interested: Click here to find out more!

The SUNY Morrisville Specialty Crops & Cannabis Production Certificate is stackable and transfers to the two-year horticulture AAS degree and four-year horticulture business management B.Tech. degree.

12. University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

Campus Location: Urbana, IL
Program: Cannabis Production & Management Certificate
Credit: 11 credits, 4 courses
Delivery: online
Institutional Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Program Cost: $416 per credit
Interested: Click here to find out more!

The College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Its courses include crop production, plant breeding, pest management, and plant physiology.

13. University of Utah

Campus Location: Logan, Utah
Program: The Science and Technology of Medical Cannabis Cultivation
Credit: The course earns a Cannabis Cultivation certificate
Delivery: online, one course in 12 sections
Institutional Accreditation: NA
Program Cost: $1,495 total
Interested: Click here to find out more!

The University of Utah offers a 12-section self-paced class on Medical Cannabis Cultivation. This university-level online course is open to the general public and provides an in-depth understanding of how to optimize yield and quality in medical Cannabis. Participants earn a Cannabis Cultivation certificate upon completion of the final online exam.

14. University of Nevada Reno

Campus Location: Reno, NV
Program: Cannabis Agriculture and Horticulture Certificate
Classes: 3 classes, 8 weeks each
Delivery: 100% online asynchronous
Institutional Accreditation: NA
Program Cost: $2,950 total, payment plans available
Interested: Click here to find out more!

15. Mercy University

Campus Location: Dobbs Ferry, NY
Program: Cannabis Agriculture and Horticulture Certificate
Classes: 3 classes, 8 weeks each
Delivery: Asynchronous Web-Based
Institutional Accreditation: NA
Program Cost: $2,500 total
Interested: Click here to find out more!

16. University of Wisconsin Platteville

Campus Location: Platteville, WI
Program: Cannabis Agriculture and Horticulture Certificate
Classes: 3 classes, 8 weeks each
Delivery: 100% online asynchronous
Institutional Accreditation: NA
Program Cost: $2,500 total, payment plans available
Interested: Click here to find out more!

17. Saint Joseph’s University

Campus Location: Philadelphia, PA
Program: Cannabis Agriculture and Horticulture Certificate
Classes: 3 classes, 8 weeks each
Delivery: 100% online asynchronous
Institutional Accreditation: NA
Program Cost: $2,950 total, payment plans available
Interested: Click here to find out more!

18. Holyoke Community College

Holyoke Community College (HCC) partnered with Online Cannabis Education (OCE) to offer the Master Cannabis Growing Certification Program. Course materials include 23 hours of required training that teaches students how to grow premium cannabis in both home and commercial settings.

Campus Location: Holyoke, MA
Program: Master Cannabis Growing Certification Program
Credit: NA, 23 hours required study
Delivery: Online
Institutional Accreditation: NA
Program Cost: $799 for class
Interested: Click here to find out more!

19. University of Maine

The University of Maine offers a class through the Environmental Horticulture program. This Introduction to Cannabis Cultivation and Science course covers cannabis cultivation and prepares students for potential employment opportunities in the cannabis industry. Topics include the history of cannabis, botany, production requirements, pest management, fertility, legal aspects, production of cannabis products, and uses of both high and low-THC cannabis.

Campus Location: Orono, ME
Program: Introduction to Cannabis Cultivation and Science class
Credit: 1 credit
Delivery: Online
Institutional Accreditation: NA
Program Cost: $412 in state, $1,193 non resident
Interested: Click here to find out more!

20. Utah State University

The College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences at Utah State University offers a 13 part class on cannabis. This university-level online course is available to the general public and offers a comprehensive understanding of how to optimize yield and quality in medical cannabis cultivation. Participants will receive a certificate in Cannabis Cultivation upon successful completion of a final online exam.

Campus Location: Logan, UT
Program: The Science and Technology of Medical Cannabis Cultivation
Credit: NA
Delivery: Online
Institutional Accreditation: NA
Program Cost: $1,495 for class
Interested: Click here to find out more!

21. Norquest College

Norquest College offers the Cannabis Trimming & Production online course. This course delves into the knowledge needed for participants to become competitive candidates for cannabis trimming and production jobs or for those seeking to deepen their understanding and transition their careers into the cannabis industry. Participants will learn about the theories and procedures essential for successful cannabis production and will gain insight into why cannabis is produced the way it is in Canada. Upon completing the Cannabis Trimming & Production online course, participants can apply for first-hand experience in cannabis production at a local licensed producer.

Campus Location: Edmonton, AB Canada
Program: Cannabis Trimming & Production: online course
Credit: NA
Delivery: Online
Institutional Accreditation: NA
Program Cost: $695.00 CAD + Tax
Interested: Click here to find out more!

What Degree Do You Need to Grow Cannabis?

To become a cannabis grower, you need to have experience working in the agriculture industry. Places to gain experience are typically a farm, greenhouse, or a nursery. Some growers attend Cannabis Agriculture programs or have a bachelor’s degree in soil science, horticulture, plant biology, or a related subject.

There is no specific degree required to grow cannabis. However, having a degree in horticulture, plant science, or a related field can provide valuable knowledge and skills for cultivating cannabis plants.

Additionally, some states and countries may require a license or certification for legal cannabis cultivation, which may have specific educational or training requirements. Overall, a combination of education, experience, and passion for cannabis cultivation can be beneficial for success in this field.

What is the Job Title for Someone Who Grows Cannabis?

Cannabis Cultivators and Growers are the professionals who grow cannabis. The Master Grower is 100 percent responsible for your cultivation program. Also referred to as the Head Grower or Cultivation Manager, this position is the single most important asset for any commercial cultivation facility.

You don’t need to attend Cannabis Agriculture programs to get a job in this sector. But, with a degree in cannabis agriculture, students can easily pursue various careers in the cannabis industry. Some common job titles for graduates include:

Cannabis Cultivator or Grower
Quality control manager
Extraction Technician
Compliance Specialist
Sales representative for a cannabis company
Marketing manager for a cannabis brand
Dispensary Manager
Cannabis Consultant

How Much Can You Make in Cannabis Agriculture?

The amount of money you can make with a degree or certificate from one of these cannabis agriculture programs varies. Geographic location, experience, and also the employer can affect how much you earn.

Marijuana Grower Entry-Level

A marijuana grower entry-level job is a position in the cannabis industry that involves growing and cultivating cannabis plants for medicinal or recreational use. This job typically requires little to no experience, making it a good entry-level position for individuals looking to start a career in the cannabis industry.

AVERAGE SALARY: $15 to $20 per hour (Indeed)

Cannabis Grower or Cultivator

Cannabis cultivators, or growers, are experts at managing the growing, harvesting, and planting of cannabis plants. This role is paramount as it helps supply the initial product. Cannabis cultivators are typically entry-level positions that also offer growth opportunities.

AVERAGE SALARY: $54,372 (Indeed)

Medical Marijuana Grower

A medical marijuana grower is responsible for cultivating and harvesting medical marijuana plants for medicinal use. This job requires a strong knowledge of horticulture, plant anatomy, and cultivation techniques.

AVERAGE SALARY: $53,000 (Salary dot com)

Related:

Table of Contents