Agricultural Mechanization: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 11 reporting college programs.
+$33,275 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
This is a positive modeled result. Price, time to finish and future earnings can still change the outcome.
Observed national outcomes
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $65,881
- Federal debt
- $7,696
- Reporting programs
- 5
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $62,058
- Federal debt
- $12,553
- Reporting programs
- 10
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $73,393
- Federal debt
- $20,270
- Reporting programs
- 11
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Iowa State University$78,8902Kansas State University$78,5373California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$78,0804University of Missouri-Columbia$75,9585University of Nebraska-Lincoln$74,0036Purdue University-Main Campus$73,3937South Dakota State University$67,7468Sam Houston State University$67,7299North Carolina State University at Raleigh$60,12210North Dakota State University-Main Campus$58,690Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ames, IA | $78,890 | $20,946 | +33% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Kansas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Manhattan, KS | $78,537 | $19,344 | +30% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoBachelor's Degree | San Luis Obispo, CA | $78,080 | Not available | +34% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | University of Missouri-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, MO | $75,958 | $18,479 | +19% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | University of Nebraska-LincolnBachelor's Degree | Lincoln, NE | $74,003 | $23,750 | +16% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Purdue University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $73,393 | $20,270 | +19% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | South Dakota State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Brookings, SD | $67,746 | $22,000 | -12% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Sam Houston State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Huntsville, TX | $67,729 | Not available | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | North Carolina State University at RaleighBachelor's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $60,122 | Not available | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | North Dakota State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Fargo, ND | $58,690 | Not available | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | University of Puerto Rico-MayaguezBachelor's Degree | Mayaguez, PR | $40,931 | $9,750 | -116% | Negative payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.