Applied Horticulture Degree Programs at UCM Ranked Among Nation’s Best

WARRENSBURG, MO – The University of Central Missouri was selected among the best affordable colleges for Applied Horticulture Degree majors by Affordable Schools, an online ranking website.

Affordable Schools ranked the 25 Best Affordable Applied Horticulture Degree Programs (Bachelor’s), based on criteria that included average cost of attendance, student-to-faculty ratio, and graduation rate.

Affordable Schools notes the $13.8 billion horticulture industry needs people with the knowledge and skills to propagate new flora as flower and crop sales skyrocket. It adds that the demand for low-cost degree options are growing as 2,000 new plants are discovered each year.

In its online feature, Affordable Schools ranks UCM’s horticulture program 19th overall. It mentions UCM’s Mitchell Street Farm as part of a program that provides an opportunity to learn about crop management through the School of Natural Sciences. The school’s inexpensive Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Science has four emphasis areas, including Horticulture, to teach crop management skills. The 120-credit, 16-week program is Higher Learning Commission (HLC)-accredited with courses such as Plant Diseases and Turfgrass Science. It provides students with an opportunity for internships at botanical gardens, study abroad in countries such as Japan, participation in the Horticulture Club and an opportunity to attend professional conferences that will further students’ education and practical experience in horticulture. The program enjoys a 17:1 student-faculty ratio, and a 94 percent job placement rate, according to Affordable Schools.

UCM’s program boasts two greenhouses and a lath house. This includes a 5,000-square-foot facility with state-of-the-art climate control and production capabilities utilized in various horticulture courses. This allows students the opportunity to gain skills in the care, grooming, propagation, and trial marketing of plants.

Individuals who want to learn more about UCM’s Horticulture programs should contact Mark Goodwin, associate professor, at 660-543-8113 or sgoodwin@ucmo.edu.