Horticultural Biology (PhD) at Cornell University

Programme overview

As the only horticulture program in the Ivy League, our faculty, staff, and students work to shape the food systems and landscapes of today and tomorrow. Our faculty work across New York to make discoveries and share knowledge about fruits, vegetables and landscape plants. Members of the graduate field of horticulture reside in the Section of Horticulture on the Ithaca campus, and at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva.

What you will study

Concentrations: Breeding of horticultural crops, Horticultural crop management systems, Human-plant interactions, Physiology and ecology of horticultural crops.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

all Graduate School requirements , including the English language proficiency requirement for all applicants; three recommendations; A strong background in life sciences is important, as evidenced by grades, coursework, and research projects undertaken. Three letters of recommendation are required. For all applicants submitting TOEFL scores , a minimum TOEFL of reading 20, writing 20, listening 15, and speaking 22 (internet-based test) is required and a cumulative score is not acceptable. We urge serious candidates to contact our graduate faculty to introduce themselves, to discuss mutual research interests; and if appropriate, to plan a visit to Cornell. Application deadline: Fall, November 16; Spring, check with field

USD 20,800 a year (2026-27). Doctoral tuition per year ($10,400 per semester); the source states $20,800 applies to Ph.D., D.M.A. and J.S.D. programs in endowed and contract colleges; tuition only. Source

Graduate School applications are submitted online through the Graduate School application; the application fee is $105. Each graduate field sets its own deadlines, and many fall between early December and mid-January.

Apply through the official page: https://gradschool.cornell.edu/admissions/application-steps/apply-now/

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