Garden to Market Specialist
36 Credit Technical DiplomaProgram Description
The Garden to Market Specialist Technical Diploma is designed for anyone interested in market gardening and fruit and vegetable production in a variety of agricultural settings. Learners will develop skills to start their own enterprises growing produce and other agriculture products to sell. Hands-on and classroom trainings are offered in both a hoop house and greenhouse lab setting.
Please note: This program is subject to the Clock-to-Credit Hour Conversion and some courses listed will not be eligible for full financial aid funding based on the program’s credit hours.
Found in These Career Fields:
Approximate Program Cost
$6,887
Tuition & Fees:
$6,551
Books & Supplies: $336
Books & Supplies: $336
Starting Salary
$15,082–$19,458
Average,
according to Lightcast
Financial Aid
Available
Total financial aid offered may not exceed the estimated Cost of Attendance (COA).
Media from the Garden to Market Specialist Program
A Closer Look
Detailed Program Information
Take a deeper dive into the details of this program. This section offers information to help you evaluate whether the program fits your goals, interests, and timeline. Use it as a tool to guide your decision-making process.
Availability
Courses for this program may be available at a variety of campus locations through multiple modes of delivery if you meet the admission requirements and prerequisites.
* Campus and online availability of courses and programs may be subject to change.
Outcomes
Graduates will be able to…
Careers
Some of the potential careers graduates can pursue are:
Courses
The Garden to Market Specialist Technical Diploma is a 36 Credit program. The following is a typical semester breakdown of the courses within the program.
Credit for Prior Learning Available
* College 101 (10-890-165) is not part of the program credit requirements but is a College Requirement for graduation that must be passed with a “C” or better.
View All Detailed Course Information
Pathways
Pathways at NTC are designed to help you progress toward your career and education goals, one step at a time. Many programs are structured to build upon each other, allowing you to earn valuable credentials along the way.
If you begin with one of the following programs, you will earn credit towards this Garden to Market Specialist Technical Diploma:
The Horticulture Technician Technical Diploma will provide you with 17% (6 of 36 credits) of the total credits in this Garden to Market Specialist Technical Diploma
Cost of Attendance
2026–2027 Estimated Academic Year Budgeted Cost of Attendance
The estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) is a budget that includes categories of expenses that a student may incur while attending NTC. The COA does not reflect actual charges. It is an average based on the estimated living costs typical of our region. In determining the cost of attendance, Northcentral Technical College takes into consideration the budget established by the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) Financial Aid Budget Work Group. This budget is used to determine financial need for all students who apply for financial aid. A student’s cost of attendance is composed of all educational expenses that can be included for financial aid purposes that a student may accrue while pursuing their education for the year (or semester, if enrolled less than a year). A student’s financial aid cannot exceed their cost of attendance. Schools are required to provide a fuller picture of what it may cost students to pursue their degree, not just what they will owe in tuition/fees and books/supplies. The costs displayed below are estimates based on a 16-week semester or term enrollment. Expenses such as food and housing, personal or transportation may be less based on the weeks you are enrolled.
- Full Time: 12 or more credits
- 3/4 Time: 9 to 11 credits
- 1/2 Time: 6 to 8 credits
- Less Than 1/2 Time: 1 to 5 credits
| Expense Category | Full Time | 3/4 Time | 1/2 Time | Less Than 1/2 Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees* | $2,620 | $1,965 | $1,310 | $655 |
| Books, Course Materials, Supplies and Equipment | $732 | $549 | $366 | $183 |
| Living Expenses (Housing & Food) | $5,455 | $5,455 | $5,455 | $0 |
| Miscellaneous Personal Expenses | $1,542 | $1,542 | $1,542 | $0 |
| Transportation | $1,950 | $1,950 | $1,950 | $1,950 |
| Federal Loan Fees | $43 | $43 | $43 | Not applicable |
| Total Estimated Cost of Attendance | $12,342 | $11,504 | $10,666 | $2,788 |
| Expense Category | Full Time | 3/4 Time | 1/2 Time | Less Than 1/2 Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees* | $2,620 | $1,965 | $1,310 | $655 |
| Books, Course Materials, Supplies and Equipment | $732 | $549 | $366 | $183 |
| Living Expenses (Housing & Food) | $1,612 | $1,612 | $1,612 | $0 |
| Miscellaneous Personal Expenses | $1,542 | $1,542 | $1,542 | $0 |
| Transportation | $1,950 | $1,950 | $1,950 | $1,950 |
| Federal Loan Fees | $43 | $43 | $43 | Not applicable |
| Total Estimated Cost of Attendance | $8,499 | $7,661 | $6,823 | $2,788 |
* Tuition listed is based on approved rates for the 2026–2027 academic year. Rates are approved each March by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board. Your tuition cost is based on your enrollment level. These will appear on your bill and account.
For more information regarding billed tuition and fees, visit our Tuition & Fees page.
Students awarded Federal Direct Loan(s) also have an average of the mandatory loan fees automatically added to their COA.
Students with disability-related expenses may contact the Financial Aid Office to have their additional expenses considered. Disability-related expenses include but are not limited to: personal assistance, equipment, and supplies. The Financial Aid Office may potentially include disability expenses in the COA that are not provided by other assisting agencies.
NTC also offers a Net Price Calculator to help estimate costs.
We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about how the financial aid process works. Please feel free to reach out for more information.
-
NTC Financial Aid Office
- 715.803.1647
- financialaid@ntc.edu
Additional Information
Clock-to-Credit Hour Conversion
This program is subject to the Clock-to-Credit Hour Conversion and some courses listed will not be eligible for full financial aid funding based on the program’s credit hours.
| Term | Course | Credit Hours | Financial Aid Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | COLLEGE 101 | 1 | 0.6 |
| 1 | AGRICULTURAL ACCOUNTING | 2 | 1.8 |
| 1 | INTRODUCTION TO SOILS | 2 | 2 |
| 1 | ORIENTATION TO THE HORTICULTURE INDUSTRY | 1 | 1 |
| 1 | DESIGNING & TIMING YOUR GARDEN | 2 | 2 |
| 1 | GREENHOUSE OPERATIONA AND DESIGN | 1 | 1 |
| 1 | FRUIT CROP PRODUCTION | 2 | 2 |
| 1 | AGRICULTURE EQUIPMENT SAFETY | 2 | 2 |
| 2 | CONTAINER GARDENING | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | GREENHOUSE PRODUCTION | 2 | 2 |
| 2 | PLANT SCIENCE BASICS | 1 | 0.9 |
| 2 | MERCHANDISING PRODUCE APPLICATIONS | 2 | 2 |
| 2 | FARM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT | 3 | 3 |
| 2 | PESTICIDE/FERTILIZER APPLICATIONS | 2 | 2 |
| 2 | COMMERICAL VETETABLE CROPPING SYSTEMS | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | HYDROPONICS | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT | 3 | 3 |
| 3 | GARDEN PRODUCTION BASICS | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | WEED IDENTIFICATION | 1 | 1 |
For more information, please refer to our Financial Aid Policies.
Admissions Process
Our application process takes just a few minutes to complete, but we want to make sure you have the things you’ll need on hand to complete the application. We’re here to help if you have any questions while submitting your application.
Before you apply, you should know
- The majority of the courses in this program take place at NTC’s Agriculture Center of Excellence, located at 6625 County Road K, Wausau, WI.
Fill out our application
The application can be submitted online and takes just a few minutes to complete. There is no fee to apply.
Apply NowWhat’s Next?
We’ll review your application and let you know if we need anything else. If you’re all set, your acceptance letter will be emailed to you.