Cannabis Major and Marijuana Degree Guide
A Cannabis Control Commission report from February 2025 shows that the cannabis industry continues to grow despite some contraction in California, Washington, and other established markets. This trend makes earning a cannabis degree a wise investment if you live in a state that recently legalized medical or recreational cannabis.
Cannabis degrees teach you much more than cultivation and salesmanship. You’ll learn skills relevant to many careers in and outside of the industry.
Reality Check: Can You Get a Degree in Cannabis?
Yes, you can earn a cannabis degree at many accredited colleges. They are available at the certificate, associate, bachelor’s, and master’s levels. Focus areas include cannabis science, cultivation, business, and policy. A cannabis degree gives you specialized knowledge and skills for careers in this growing industry.
Why Consider Earning a Cannabis Degree?
The cannabis industry is rapidly expanding and presents significant career opportunities across a variety of fields. You don’t need to use the product to benefit from its growth. With shifting laws and evolving public perception, cannabis has become a dynamic and legitimate frontier for professionals.
The marijuana business has increasingly become a focus for professors, courses, and both traditional and online colleges. Depending on where you live, getting an education in marijuana could help you blaze a path to a practical career in a real and growing field.
Individual states are acknowledging the medicinal properties of marijuana, with prohibition laws becoming more relaxed all the time. In some regions where marijuana has been fully decriminalized or legalized, it has become a major cash crop.
The Best Degrees for the Cannabis Field
Choosing the right cannabis major is key to aligning your education with the career path you want to follow in the industry.
- Agricultural Business & Entrepreneurship
- Biology
- Business Administration
- Cannabis Studies
- Cannabis Science
- Chemistry
- Healthcare
- Horticulture & Plant Sciences
- Marketing & Communications
- Pharmacology & Pharmacy
- Regulatory Affairs & Law
We’ve created a list to help you narrow these options down. Our list considers the “best” cannabis degrees to fall into one of three categories.
- Most Fundamental: Degrees that provide a foundational understanding of cannabis biology, chemical properties, and its major principles.
- Most In-Demand: Degrees related to cannabis with high demand in the job market.
- Most Relevant: Degrees that study cannabis specifically and often appear on cannabis job postings.
Most Fundamental
These degrees deliver the essential scientific, legal, and operational knowledge that forms the foundation of the cannabis industry.
- Biology: A biology degree offers a solid foundation in plant and human biology, making it highly applicable to cannabis cultivation, medical research, and understanding the plant’s effects.
- Chemistry: A chemistry degree provides critical skills in extraction, formulation, and testing — key processes in developing cannabis products like edibles, concentrates, and topicals — while ensuring they meet rigorous safety and quality standards.
- Horticulture & Plant Sciences: A horticulture and plant sciences degree focuses on plant growth, genetics, and cultivation techniques. It is fundamental for producing high-quality cannabis in both controlled and outdoor environments.
Most In-Demand
These degrees are in-demand in the cannabis job market due to their practical application and industry relevance.
- Business Administration: A business administration degree provides essential skills in finance, operations, marketing, and leadership, preparing you to manage cannabis enterprises like dispensaries and cultivation sites.
- Agricultural Business and Entrepreneurship: An agricultural business and entrepreneurship degree is the best for those looking to lead and innovate in the cannabis space. It blends agricultural production knowledge with strategic business training.
- Marketing: As cannabis brands compete for market share under strict advertising regulations, skilled marketers are in high demand. Marketing degrees help you develop strategies that boost awareness while staying within regulations.
- Regulatory Affairs and Law: Cannabis laws are complex, requiring expertise in regulation and compliance. A regulatory affairs and law degree prepares you to guide businesses through licensing, operational compliance, and legal risk management.
Most Relevant
These degrees directly align with the evolving needs and complexities of today’s cannabis industry.
- Cannabis Science: Cannabis science blends biology, chemistry, and cannabis-specific studies to prepare professionals for technical roles in cultivation, extraction, testing, and product development. It is one of the most versatile and in-demand degrees in the industry.
- Cannabis Studies: A cannabis studies degree explores the plant and the cannabis industry in depth. It includes topics like history, science, policy, and business. This field is ideal for entry-level positions, advocacy efforts, or work in the public sector.
- Pharmacy: As medical cannabis use expands, pharmacists play a growing role in patient education and safe product use. Pharmacy degrees offer foundational drug knowledge, and with added cannabis-specific training, pharmacists can play key roles in patient care and product guidance.
- Healthcare: With expanding medical cannabis programs, healthcare professionals need specialized training. This degree combines clinical expertise with cannabis therapeutics, ensuring effective patient support and informed care.
Cannabis Programs: Certificate to Master’s Degrees
Cannabis education programs range from short-term certificates to advanced degrees, offering cultivation, business, science, and regulation training. Each program level provides unique skills for entering or advancing the cannabis industry.
What to Consider Before Applying to a Cannabis-Related Degree Program: 3 Key Factors
Before applying to a cannabis degree program, there are several factors to consider. First, think about your interests and goals and make sure the major matches them. Next, check the program’s accreditation and admission requirements.
- 1
Determine Your Major
Cannabis programs may focus on science, business, agriculture, or law. Choose a major that aligns with your career goals, whether you’re interested in cultivation, policy, entrepreneurship, or healthcare.For example, if you’re aiming for a clinical role in the medical cannabis field, consider a major in cannabis medicine. If you’re more interested in the business side of the industry, a bachelor’s degree in cannabis business or entrepreneurship may be a better fit. At the graduate level, you can even pursue an MBA with a focus on cannabis commercialization.
- 2
Ensure Accreditation
While there’s no specific national accreditation agency dedicated specifically to cannabis programs, it’s important to ensure your prospective college has institutional accreditation.Institutional accreditation matters for several reasons. It ensures academic quality, credit transferability, and eligibility for financial aid or licensure. If you’re applying to a business-focused cannabis program, check for accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
- 3
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements for cannabis degree programs vary significantly depending on the type of cannabis degree and degree level you’re pursuing. However, there are some common admission requirements you can expect to find across schools. Standard undergraduate application requirements include:
- Official transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
- Standardized test scores, such as the ACT or SAT
- A personal statement or essay
What Can You Do As a Cannabis Major?
A cannabis major has many job options in the industry. You can work in cultivation and handle cannabis plants from seed to harvest. With experience, you can also advance to executive roles, guiding companies and impacting the industry’s future. Other roles are in finance, marketing, and operations.
| 6 Cannabis Major Careers | Median Annual Salary (2023) | Median Change (2022-2023) | Preferred Degree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plant Breeder | $84,750 | 4% | Bachelor’s |
| Production Manager | $90,950 | 4% | Bachelor’s |
| Financial Analyst | $105,000 | 10% | Bachelor’s |
| Director of Merchandising | $151,100 | 2% | Master’s |
| VP of Operations | $224,350 | 5% | Master’s |
| Chief Executive Officer | $402,350 | 7% | Master’s |
Cannabis Major Salary
Salaries for cannabis majors are not specifically available. However, related fields such as agriculture, biology, and chemistry offer useful insights into potential earnings. In general, graduates of master’s degree programs earn more than those in bachelor’s degree programs.
| Mean Starting Salary by Program Type (2023) | Bachelor’s Degree | Master’s Degree |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture Majors | $49,410 | $69,780 |
| Biology Majors | $47,840 | $62,800 |
| Chemistry Majors | $54,410 | $56,940 |
| Plant Science Majors | $50,130 | $56,400 |
Where Cannabis Majors Can Work
As of May 2025, medical cannabis is legal in 39 states, including California and Colorado. Graduates in these states can find jobs in fields such as cultivation, marketing, and retail. However, states like Texas and Idaho have not legalized marijuana, which limits job options there.
How Much Does a Cannabis Degree Cost?
A cannabis degree can vary greatly in cost based on the level and institution. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), tuition for an associate degree at a public in-state school is approximately $3,598. A bachelor’s degree costs about $9,750 in-state, while out-of-state tuition reaches $28,297.
| Degree Level | Public, In-State | Public, Out-of-State | Private |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate | $3,598 | $8,565 | N/A |
| Bachelor’s | $9,750 | $28,297 | $35,248 |
| Master’s | $11,827* | N/A | $20,515* |
*Indicates 2023-24 Data
Frequently Asked Questions About Cannabis Majors and Marijuana Degrees
The best-paying cannabis jobs are in cultivation, testing, executive roles, and accounting and finance, according to a 2023 report by CannabizTeam Worldwide. Top-tier roles like chief executive officers, master growers, and vice presidents of cultivation can earn up to $549,800 annually.
