Best CEA and Greenhouse Cultivation Degree Programs

Indoor agriculture and the CEA industry is growing at a rapid pace. More and more universities are offering programs in these areas of study, performing indoor ag research, and building greenhouses for their campuses.

Looking to enter the CEA field or want to expand your knowledge by getting a relevant degree? This article takes a look at some of the nation’s best CEA and agricultural programs and what they have to offer.

Cornell University

• In addition to being an ivy league school, Cornell:

• Offers a CEA program: the Master of Professional Studies in Integrative Plant Science with a concentration in Controlled Environment Agriculture degree

• Also offers a cannabis science and a hemp science concentration, along with many others

• In 2020, Cornell’s agriculture program was ranked #1 by the Wall Street Journal

• The university’s agricultural experiment station has 146 greenhouses, 125 plant growth chambers, and 400 plant research projects happening at any one time.

Ohio State University

• Greenhouse and Nursery Management program with two concentrations:

1. Greenhouse specialization: ornamentals, vegetables, and hydroponic growing
2. Greenhouse engineering technology: CEA technology/systems, irrigation systems, and sensors and data collection

• Campus has greenhouse, hydroponic, and arboretum facilities

• Has a newly built CEA research complex

• Also offer an array of other agriculture related studies, including their Food, Agriculture, and Bioengineering program, which ranked #12 in the nation for best agricultural engineering

University of Arizona

• CEA Agriculture programs include biosystems engineering, sustainable plant systems, and ag tech management

• Offers a CEA Center with greenhouses, vertical farms, and growth chambers

• Also has a sensing and climate control laboratory, a lunar greenhouse, a mushroom lab, a south pole growing chamber, and an aquaponics lab

Northern Michigan University

• Offers a controlled environment agriculture BS program, an indoor agriculture associate’s degree program, and an indoor ag minor

• Also offers a BS in medicinal plant chemistry, which includes cannabis, and a cannabis operations certificate

• Has two greenhouses used for research and a hoop house that donates food

• Hosts a cannabis conference

Texas A&M University

• Offers a wide array of agriculture related majors and minors, including agricultural systems management and plant breeding

• Has a CEA engineering research lab in Dallas

• The university has new greenhouses being built, and are set to include hydroponics and aquaponics facilities

• Texas A&M is ranked as the #2 best school for agricultural science by Niche

University of California Davis

• Majors include sustainable agriculture and food systems and agriculture and environmental technology

• Has 120 greenhouses, vertical farming/hydroponics facility, a botanical conservatory, CEA facility, and a laboratory greenhouse

• Ranked #2 for its agriculture and forestry programs by the QS World University Ranking

The future of the CEA industry is bright! TC Control Group is dedicated to helping growers advance the industry and cultivate the best crops. We can design, install, and service your indoor growing space—plus, we’re always on the lookout for the industry’s next leaders.