UMN - College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences

CFANS—the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the University of Minnesota—stands out for its breadth, hands-on learning, and global impact. As one of the few public universities offering such a comprehensive mix of disciplines—from plant and animal science to environmental policy, food business, nutrition, and forest management—its interdisciplinary, solutions-driven approach tackles complex issues like food security, sustainable agriculture, and ecosystem health. Students benefit from immersive, real-world training: they learn in research labs, greenhouses, barns, makerspaces, and even arboretums on and off campus. CFANS also emphasizes intercultural skills through its Diversity‑Enriched Curriculum (DEC), fostering inclusive global citizenship. With a 93% career or grad school placement rate within six months of graduation, and a legacy of innovations like the Honeycrisp apple, CFANS prepares leaders who make tangible change through science.