Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Agricultural and biological engineering applies science and engineering to production systems. These may include agriculture, food, environment, and energy. Other areas are natural resources, environmental protection and control, and related biological systems. This major may be for you if you’re interested in sustainability or renewable fuel sources. You’ll begin this major in the College of ACES. In your junior year, you will enroll in The Grainger College of Engineering to complete the degree. You can choose a concentration in either agricultural engineering or biological engineering.
Career options include agricultural safety & technology, alternative energy systems, biofuels & engines, bioprocess modeling, crop conditioning & processing, environmental controls, food science, government work, hydrology, drainage, & irrigation, and project management.
Highlights
- Our agricultural and biological engineering program is ranked #3 by U.S. News & World Report.
- 91% of students reported having an internship or co-op during their degree program.
- 100% of students reported securing their first choice destination upon graduation.
- The average starting salary for an agricultural and biological engineering graduate is $67,000.
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What You'll Study
The agricultural and biological engineering (ABE) undergraduate major is an ABET-accredited engineering program which combines fundamental engineering skills with an understanding and ability to design complex systems for food, agriculture, energy, and the environment. This major will prepare you to develop and manage technology and systems that will ensure abundant and safe food, water, and energy; sustainable and innovative agriculture; and healthy and sustainable indoor and outdoor environments. ABE allows you to combine a love of fundamental engineering skills with training in the design and analysis of complex systems for food, agriculture, energy, and the environment.
In ABE, you can choose one of two concentrations—either agricultural engineering or biological engineering—and one of seven specializations. ABE allows you to combine fundamental engineering skills with training in the design and analysis of complex systems for food, agriculture, energy, and the environment. You'll learn engineering and scientific skills to design and manage technological solutions to problems in agricultural, food, and other biological systems.
Minor in Computer Science
The CS Minor is offered for students seeking significant knowledge of digital computing without the more complete treatment of a major in computer science. This minor may be taken by any student except majors in the Computer Science degree programs and in Computer Engineering.
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Post-Graduation Success
The agricultural and biological engineering curriculum prepares graduates to become “competitive candidates” in a variety of ways. About nine percent of our ABE graduates continue their education in graduate school, and about seventy-two percent take positions in industry. Our graduates of ABE find themselves prepared to enter the fields of civil and environmental engineering, mechanical design, product, agricultural, design, biological engineers, project, test, and reliability.
Common career options for ABE graduates include the following: agricultural safety & technology, alternative energy systems, biofuels and engines, bioprocess modeling, crop conditioning & processing, environmental controls, food science, government work, hydrology, drainage, & irrigation, and project management. The average salary for ABE grads is $67,000.
92%
employed or continuing education*
72%
employed after graduation
9%
attending graduate school
$73,200
average starting annual income*
Sample employer destinations: John Deere, Caterpillar, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers View All
Sample grad school destinations: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Stanford University, The Ohio State University, College of Medicine View All
*Post-graduate data was collected through the Illini Success initiative, which primarily relies on self-reported survey data sources. Statistics reported are from 2022-2023. Please note that total compensation may be greater than annual salary as other forms of compensation (e.g., signing bonus, commission, benefits) are not included. For more information on Illini Success data and methods, please visit the Illini Success website.
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