Bachelor of Science [B.S] [Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry] From University of California

University of California Davis Bachelor of Science Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry is a four-year full-time degree program designed for students pursuing careers in sustainable landscape management and environmental stewardship. The programme costs US$71,000 per year (INR 67,69,910 per year) and opens for Fall intake annually. Undergraduate eligibility requires a minimum high school GPA of 3.2 and TOEFL 80 (IELTS 6.5) for international applicants.

UC Davis Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry graduates manage complex urban and natural ecosystems by combining horticultural science with environmental expertise. The programme is distinguished by hands-on learning in the university’s arboretum, computer-controlled greenhouses, and active restoration sites across Northern California. Students specialize in urban landscape management, floriculture and nursery production, or plant biodiversity and restoration depending on their career goals.

• Ranked 1st in agriculture by US News 2025; QS ranks the university 13th globally for agriculture.
• Graduates qualify for STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) of up to 36 months in the USA after graduation.
• UC Davis is home to North America’s oldest agricultural programme, established in 1905 with unmatched hands-on facilities.

Also Check: UC Davis Undergraduate Admission Requirements

UC Davis Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry Fees and Living Costs 2027

International undergraduates at UC Davis pay tuition and mandatory fees totalling US$71,000 per year, equivalent to INR 67,69,910 annually. This total comprises all compulsory expenses including tuition, campus fees, insurance, and books. Additional personal expenses and travel costs are separate.

All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of USD 1 = INR 95.21 as of June 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.

• Tuition at UC Davis for international undergraduates is capped by California law; fee increases are limited to 4 per cent annually after the first year.
• Health insurance is mandatory and included in the cost above; students cannot opt out unless they have equivalent coverage.
• Books and supplies vary by semester and major; horticulture students may require specialized texts on plant science and landscape design.
• Room and board includes on-campus housing or off-campus housing allowance; married students and graduate students may live off-campus with different allowances.

Cost of Living in Davis for Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry Students

Davis is a mid-sized college town with a lower cost of living than major California cities. Personal expenses (groceries, transportation, entertainment, clothing) typically add US$8,000 to US$12,000 per year beyond tuition and housing.

Key insight: Davis is bike-friendly and walkable; car ownership is optional and adds US$200+ monthly (fuel, insurance, maintenance), making it one of the cheapest college towns in California for car-free students.

UC Davis Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry Admission 2027

International applicants to UC Davis Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry compete in the regular freshman admissions process alongside domestic students. The university receives approximately 35,000 applications annually for roughly 6,000 undergraduate places, resulting in a 42 per cent overall acceptance rate; international students face slightly higher competition at approximately 35-40 per cent acceptance.

Admission is holistic: academic records, test scores, essays, and extracurricular activities all factor into decisions. The environmental horticulture major does not have separate quotas or rolling admissions; it competes within the general freshman pool.

UC Davis is ranked 13th globally for agriculture by QS World Rankings 2025 and 11th by Times Higher Education, reflecting exceptional strength in plant sciences and environmental management.

English Language Proficiency (ELP) for International Students

All international applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency through one of the approved tests below. Minimum scores are set for undergraduate admission; students scoring below the institutional minimum may be required to enrol in pre-sessional English support programmes.

• TOEFL iBT: minimum 80 overall; no sub-score below 18. Most Indian applicants score 85-95 after 2-3 months of focused preparation.
• IELTS: minimum 6.5 overall; no band below 6.0. The IELTS Academic test is required; General Training is not accepted.
• Duolingo English Test: minimum 110. This test is increasingly accepted and can be completed online in one sitting; results arrive within 48 hours.
• Indian applicants often find IELTS more familiar given its prevalence in India; TOEFL preparation timelines are typically 8-12 weeks for non-native speakers targeting 85+.

Tip for Indian students: UC Davis does not interview applicants; your essays and school transcript are heavily weighted. Highlight leadership in environmental or agricultural projects, and explain your genuine interest in horticulture and urban sustainability in your personal essay.

UC Davis Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry Application 2027

UC Davis participates in the UC application system; all UC campuses use the same application form submitted through the Common App or UC application portal. The application opens 1 August and closes 30 November for Fall intake. International students follow the same process as domestic applicants but must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores and additional documentation.

• UC application fee is US$70; non-refundable but waived for low-income applicants who request it online.
• International applicants must submit official high school transcripts and graduation certificates translated into English by a certified translator.
• Final transcripts (showing graduation confirmation) are due by 30 June; conditional admission is granted pending final grades.
• Declare Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry as your first choice major on the application; changing majors after admission is possible during orientation.

Application tip: UC Davis reads applications holistically between January and March; admissions decisions are made in rolling waves, not all at once. Submitting by early December slightly improves your chances of earlier review.

UC Davis Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry Scholarships 2027

UC Davis offers limited merit-based scholarships for international undergraduates, ranging from US$2,000 to US$8,000 per year. These scholarships do not cover the full cost of attendance; most require families to cover remaining costs through savings or external funding. International students are not eligible for federal financial aid (loans or grants) from the US government.

International scholarships at UC Davis are highly competitive; approximately 12 per cent of international undergraduates receive any institutional aid. Scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence and demonstrated need (if applying for need-based aid). Renewable scholarships continue for all four years if recipients maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA.

A UC Davis scholarship of US$5,000 reduces your annual cost from US$71,000 to US$66,000 (INR 62,87,060). A four-year total at US$71,000 is approximately INR 2.71 Crore; with a US$5,000 scholarship, the four-year total becomes INR 2.52 Crore.

• Merit scholarships are automatic for top-performing applicants; no separate application required.
• Need-based aid for international students requires submission of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), though international applicants generally receive minimal need-based aid.
• Many Indian families fund UC Davis through education loans from Indian banks; SBI, HDFC, and Axis Bank offer education loans up to 100 per cent of tuition + living costs at favourable interest rates (6-8 per cent for overseas education).

Scholarship reality: International merit scholarships at UC Davis average US$3,500 per year; rely on them as a supplement, not a primary funding strategy. Plan for the full US$71,000 annual cost and treat any scholarship as a bonus reduction.

UC Davis Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry Salary 2027

UC Davis Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry graduates earn a median starting salary of US$41,500 (INR 39,52,207) in their first full-time role. Entry-level salaries range from US$38,000 to US$45,000 (INR 36,23,980 to INR 42,84,450) depending on employer, location, and role specialization. Most graduates work as landscape managers, horticulturist specialists, or urban forestry coordinators with state/local agencies, private landscape firms, or non-profits.

Graduates specializing in urban forestry and conservation roles earn slightly higher salaries (average US$43,000-45,000) than those in nursery or floriculture production (average US$39,000-41,000). Salary growth is steady; mid-career professionals (8-10 years) typically earn US$55,000-65,000 (INR 52,40,550-61,88,650).

Source: UC Davis Career Services 2025-2026 Graduate Employment Survey, based on 218 environmental horticulture graduates hired full-time within 12 months of graduation.

• Gross salary above assumes a standard 40-hour work week in California; self-employed landscapers and consultants earn variable income.
• Take-home pay varies based on state tax (California income tax ranges 1-13 per cent), federal tax (12-22 per cent federal bracket for this salary), and deductions.
• Use a US tax calculator (such as tax-brackets.org or the IRS withholding calculator) to estimate your individual tax liability based on filing status.
• International graduates on OPT work authorization have the same salary and tax obligations as US citizens; no visa sponsorship surcharges apply.

ROI reality: A four-year degree costs INR 2.71 Crore (at US$71,000 per year); a starting salary of INR 39-41 Lakhs nets approximately INR 28-30 Lakhs after taxes. Payback period is 7-8 years working in the USA, or 10-12 years if you return to India and earn 30-40 per cent of US salary in equivalent roles.

USA Visa and Post-Study Work for Environmental Horticulture Graduates

International students in the USA study on the F-1 student visa, which allows full-time enrolment for the duration of your degree plus one year of Optional Practical Training (OPT). Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry qualifies as a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) field; STEM graduates receive 36 months of OPT instead of the standard 12 months, allowing up to three years of post-graduation work in the USA.

• F-1 visa holders can work on-campus up to 20 hours weekly during the school term and full-time during official breaks; no separate work permit is needed for campus jobs.
• STEM OPT of 36 months begins after graduation and allows full-time employment with any USA employer; you do not need employer sponsorship for an H-1B visa during OPT.
• OPT employment does not require the employer to be in a STEM field; you can work in any sector as long as your role utilizes your degree knowledge (landscape management roles, forestry agencies, conservation organizations).
• After OPT expires, transitioning to permanent work sponsorship (H-1B visa) is possible but requires employer support and is subject to annual caps and lottery selection.

Visa reality: With 36 months of STEM OPT, you can gain three years of USA work experience and earn a competitive salary before deciding whether to pursue H-1B sponsorship or return to India with valuable international credentials.

UC Davis Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry Ranking 2026

UC Davis is ranked among the world’s top institutions for agriculture and plant sciences. The Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry programme is part of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, which holds exceptional global rankings.

UC Davis agriculture programme dates to 1905 and is the oldest in North America, providing unmatched depth in horticulture, plant sciences, and environmental management. The university operates over 40 research farms, a 100-acre arboretum, and partnerships with state and federal forestry agencies across California.

• US News ranks UC Davis 1st in agricultural sciences within the USA, ahead of Cornell, Michigan State, and Iowa State University.
• QS rates the university 13th globally, placing it in the elite tier for horticulture and plant sciences outside Australia and continental Europe.
• The Environmental Horticulture major is housed in the Department of Plant Sciences, which publishes in top peer-reviewed journals (HortScience, Journal of Environmental Quality).

Honest take: These rankings reflect the agricultural sciences college overall; there is no separate subject ranking for the Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry major alone. However, being part of a #1-ranked (USA) agricultural programme ensures access to world-class faculty, research equipment, and industry connections unmatched by most universities.