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Cannabis Studies Online Degree

3-year online accelerated bachelor's degree

Find success in a multi-billion-dollar industry

As cannabis legalization expands across the world, the global market is projected to exceed $100 billion within a few years. Our flexible, fully online program focuses on the science of the industry and the governmental policy on cannabis legislation, giving you a strong educational foundation that will make you competitive in a rapidly evolving industry. 

Roanoke College was the first college in Virginia – and one of only a handful on the East Coast – to offer a traditional Cannabis Studies degree. Our accelerated bachelor's program will arm you with the deep knowledge you'll need to upskill in a current job or land a new position, making you an informed and responsible leader who will help shape the future of the industry.

student writing about cannabis in a notebook

About Our Program

  • 100% Online

    Take classes that fit your schedule.

  • 3 years

    3 semesters each year (fall/spring/summer)

  • 30 Hours / Week

     Estimated for 3 courses (~10 hours each)

  • Head Start

    You can get credit for past experience. Ask about our prior learning transfer credit.

Cannabis is Taking Off. Are You Ready?

 Virginia is preparing to launch legal cannabis retail sales by July 2027, expanding job opportunities in cultivation, compliance, operations and business development.

"I look forward to ensuring that future generations of Roanoke College students graduate with the knowledge they need to become unstoppable forces in the cannabis industry."

Ross Dove '16, founding owner of Seedless Analytical LLC, a consulting and research firm that provides analytical services to cannabis and hemp processors

Ross Dove

Courses

Sample Course Offerings

  • CANN 280: Cannabis Chemistry 
  • CANN 320: Cannabis Cultivation & Production 
  • CANN 170: Cannabis & Its Regulation
  • POLI 150: Politics & Public Policy
  • COMM 317: Professional Communication 

A laptop decorated with Roanoke College stickers

Learning Objectives

Roanoke’s coursework for this program spans the topics of cannabis in society; scientific literacy; research methods; cannabis policy, regulation and industry practices; cannabis and human health; professional communication and ethics; and practical skills relevant to industry careers. 

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the historical, cultural, economic, and political forces that impact cannabis policy.
  • Demonstrate scientific literacy in cannabis biology, chemistry, and cultivation.
  • Apply research methods to cannabis-related questions across disciplines.
  • Analyze current cannabis policy, regulation, and industry practices.
  • Evaluate scientific arguments about cannabis and health with clarity and nuance.
  • Demonstrate professional communication, cultural competence, and ethical practice.
  • Apply practical skills relevant to cannabis industry careers. 

Tuition & Fees

Investing in your future is an important decision. From the start, our program was designed with affordability in mind. By earning your degree in three years instead of four, you'll save money and fast track your goals.

Tuition per credit $495
Total credits required 92
Total estimated tuition $45,540*
Fees $930 per year

* Listed tuition doesn't include potential scholarships and financial aid. In 2025-2026, 100% of Roanoke College students benefited from financial aid — including an automatic in-state tuition grant offered to Virginia residents. Learn More: Scholarships & Aid.

Cannabis Careers

Over 400,000 Jobs—and Expanding

Cannabis is not just a niche, it's a national movement that is going to drive a multi-billion-dollar industry that's going to need people.

Cannabis Job Growth

  Virginia retail cannabis sales expected to begin in 2027

Cannabis Job Prospects

The cannabis job market is rapidly growing. Here are coast-to-coast salary averages:

  • Lead Cultivation: $80k 
  • Director of Cultivation: $140k 
  • Product Development Mgnt: $100k 
  • Director Quality Control: $140k  
  • Market Research Analyst: $80k  
  • Dispensary Manager: $65k 
  • Post-Harvest Management: $70k  
  • Irrigation/Fertigation Mgnt: $80k  
  • Fertigation Technician: $65k   
  • Operations Director: $200k 
  • IPM (pest) Manager: $130k   
  • Lab Testing Supervisor: $100k 
  • Compliance Supervisor: $90k  
  • Compliance Specialist: $70k   

(Data from Vangst, Flower Hire and CannaBiz Team)

woman in a lab studying cannabis

Faculty

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Contact

We're here to help. Get in touch anytime to learn more about how we can support your goals.

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We are fortunate to partner with cannabis experts all over the country. 

Cannabis Collaborator logos - Pure Shenandoah, Virginia Cannabis Control Authority, Commonwealth Canna Growing Co., imbucanna, The Buffalo Hemp Company, The Daniel Law Firm, P.C.

Why study cannabis at Roanoke?

  • Custom Program

    Our cannabis programs are tailor-made with a strong science foundation rather than pre-packaged from a third-party vendor.

  • Expert Faculty

    Our faculty includes cannabis industry experts and trained scientists, including geneticists, medical practitioners, botanists and social scientists.

  • Well-Rounded

    Our pioneering program offers a holistic curriculum built on the science, policy, and history of the cannabis industry, guiding our students to become its future leaders.

Interested in getting your accelerated, online degree in Cannabis Studies at Roanoke College?

Request Information