The study addresses the issue of developing analytical competencies and critical thinking skills among students in environmental programs within higher agricultural education. Given the necessity for environmental specialists to clearly express and argue their professional positions, particularly in examination and environmental control procedures within the agro-industrial sector, the research aims to evaluate the level of critical thinking among these students. An empirical analysis was conducted through a survey of students enrolled in environmental programs across Russia, utilizing SPSS Statistics (version 27) for data processing. The findings reveal a significant correlation between participation in expert assessments of environmental problems and the enhancement of critical thinking abilities. These results suggest that integrating a systematic approach to fostering critical thinking in the curriculum can improve the competency profile of graduates from environmental educational programs, ultimately better preparing them for professional challenges.