Agricultural and Biological Engineering Major

The Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE) major is a dynamic collaboration between the Grainger College of Engineering and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES). This partnership gives students unique access to world-class faculty and cutting-edge resources from both colleges.

As an ABET-accredited program, ABE equips students with core engineering skills crucial for tackling complex challenges. The curriculum focuses on designing and implementing sustainable solutions for agricultural, food, and biological systems.

Students can tailor their education by choosing from six specialized concentrations, allowing them to align their studies with specific career goals or areas of interest in this diverse field.

Choose Your Concentration

IBRL

Bioprocess Engineering & Industrial Biotechnology

Develop and manage equipment and systems for the processing of food, feed, biofuels, and other biological materials.
Person with off-highway vehicle

Off-Highway Vehicle & Equipment Engineering

Design, manufacture, and test equipment and control systems for off-highway vehicle industries, including agriculture, construction, and mining.
Students examining blueprints in field.

Renewable Energy Systems Engineering

Design renewable energy systems, using solar, wind, biofuel, and geothermal resources.
Student examining soil.

Soil & Water Resources Engineering

Design sustainable systems to manage and conserve soil and water, control erosion and sediment, improve water quality, and minimize pollution.
Students in greenhouse.

Sustainable Ecological & Environmental Systems Engineering

Design, manage, and restore sustainability and resilience in natural and urban environments, integrating automation and environmental control while applying principles of ecology and conservation.
Student in laboratory.

Synthetic Biological Engineering

Apply engineering principles to improve organisms by introducing new capabilities vital to food, energy, water, agricultural, and environmental sectors.

Industry-Linked Design Project

As a student in ABE, you’ll complete an industry-sponsored senior design project allowing you to partner with a client to solve real-world problems. Student teams develop and prototype marketable solutions for their clients. Students won't just learn about engineering, they'll also put their knowledge and skills to use.  

The undergraduate program in Agricultural and Biological Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET under both the agricultural engineering and biological engineering criteria.

Most recent data on our graduates:

95%
job placement rate
$69k
average starting salary
21%
higher salary than peers at other universities

Graduation and Beyond

As an ABE major, you’ll graduate with a degree from The Grainger College of Engineering. You'll be prepared for careers as project, test, reliability, civil, environmental, mechanical design, product, agricultural, design, and biological engineers. Our graduates work with Fortune 500 companies, consulting firms, academia, government agencies, non-profit groups, and research institutions. The average starting salary for our ABE graduates is $69,000.

Areas of Employment

  • Biological Systems Automation
  • Bioprocessing
  • Ecological Modeling
  • Environmental Consulting
  • Enzyme Development and Production
  • Food Engineering
  • Off-Road Equipment Design and Testing
  • Precision Agriculture
  • Renewable Energy
  • Sustainability