Agriculture, General: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 51 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$165,640 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.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
31.2 yrsModeled economic break-even
−68%Modeled 10-year ROI
$52,804Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$52,804Median reported earnings · year 4
$52,842Average reported earnings · year 5
$20,699Median federal debt
30thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
51Reporting programs
44With year-4 earnings
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.
OPEN PROFILE
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $46,205
- Federal debt
- $11,500
- Reporting programs
- 11
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $52,804
- Federal debt
- $20,699
- Reporting programs
- 51
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $62,078
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 5
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.
Median
25th percentile$48,778National median$52,80475th percentile$58,245
44 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
51 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$84,412Federal debt$21,903Annual net price$16,6652Texas State UniversitySan Marcos, TX · PublicYear-4 earnings$71,237Federal debt$20,699Annual net price$16,8053Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$67,954Federal debt$15,599Annual net price$28,6904California State University, StanislausTurlock, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$64,669Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$6,0675Illinois State UniversityNormal, IL · PublicYear-4 earnings$63,600Federal debt$18,750Annual net price$19,3986North Dakota State University-Main CampusFargo, ND · PublicYear-4 earnings$62,285Federal debt$25,000Annual net price$15,5437California State University, ChicoChico, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$61,369Federal debt$15,000Annual net price$14,4808South Dakota State UniversityBrookings, SD · PublicYear-4 earnings$61,132Federal debt$20,000Annual net price$19,8419Sam Houston State UniversityHuntsville, TX · PublicYear-4 earnings$60,598Federal debt$19,125Annual net price$16,40410Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station, TX · PublicYear-4 earnings$59,213Federal debt$18,585Annual net price$21,31511Western Illinois UniversityMacomb, IL · PublicYear-4 earnings$58,333Federal debt$18,969Annual net price$12,93712Texas A&M University-KingsvilleKingsville, TX · PublicYear-4 earnings$58,245Federal debt$22,875Annual net price$12,09013Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondale, IL · PublicYear-4 earnings$57,596Federal debt$18,000Annual net price$13,29714Texas Tech UniversityLubbock, TX · PublicYear-4 earnings$57,343Federal debt$27,000Annual net price$19,07015University of DelawareNewark, DE · PublicYear-4 earnings$57,207Federal debt$24,372Annual net price$17,79916Warner UniversityLake Wales, FL · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$56,429Federal debt$22,250Annual net price$19,74817North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh, NC · PublicYear-4 earnings$53,969Federal debt$19,000Annual net price$17,30318Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg, VA · PublicYear-4 earnings$53,568Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$24,95319Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OR · PublicYear-4 earnings$53,547Federal debt$26,000Annual net price$19,60420Oregon State University-Cascades CampusBend, OR · PublicYear-4 earnings$53,547Federal debt$26,000Annual net price$18,04821University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, NE · PublicYear-4 earnings$52,997Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$17,74722Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA · PublicYear-4 earnings$52,932Federal debt$26,000Annual net price$32,87523Delaware State UniversityDover, DE · PublicYear-4 earnings$52,676Federal debt$23,625Annual net price$13,91024Dickinson State UniversityDickinson, ND · PublicYear-4 earnings$52,529Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$14,09225Truman State UniversityKirksville, MO · PublicYear-4 earnings$52,303Federal debt$19,500Annual net price$12,780
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$84,4122Texas State University$71,2373Cornell University$67,9544California State University, Stanislaus$64,6695Illinois State University$63,6006North Dakota State University-Main Campus$62,2857California State University, Chico$61,3698South Dakota State University$61,1329Sam Houston State University$60,59810Texas A&M University-College Station$59,213Observed 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.
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1041 · 1 crosswalk linksAgricultural TechniciansSOC 19-4012 · 1 crosswalk linksAnimal ScientistsSOC 19-1011 · 1 crosswalk linksFood Scientists and TechnologistsSOC 19-1012 · 1 crosswalk linksSoil and Plant ScientistsSOC 19-1013 · 1 crosswalk links
Where this degree has enough data to compare
State pages are published only when at least five operating colleges report year-4 earnings for this exact field and credential.
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 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoBachelor's Degree | San Luis Obispo, CA | $84,412 | $21,903 | +60% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Texas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Marcos, TX | $71,237 | $20,699 | +6% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Cornell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ithaca, NY | $67,954 | $15,599 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | California State University, StanislausBachelor's Degree | Turlock, CA | $64,669 | Not available | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Illinois State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Normal, IL | $63,600 | $18,750 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | North Dakota State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Fargo, ND | $62,285 | $25,000 | -29% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | California State University, ChicoBachelor's Degree | Chico, CA | $61,369 | $15,000 | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | South Dakota State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Brookings, SD | $61,132 | $20,000 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Sam Houston State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Huntsville, TX | $60,598 | $19,125 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $59,213 | $18,585 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Western Illinois UniversityBachelor's Degree | Macomb, IL | $58,333 | $18,969 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Texas A&M University-KingsvilleBachelor's Degree | Kingsville, TX | $58,245 | $22,875 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleBachelor's Degree | Carbondale, IL | $57,596 | $18,000 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Texas Tech UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lubbock, TX | $57,343 | $27,000 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | University of DelawareBachelor's Degree | Newark, DE | $57,207 | $24,372 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Warner UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lake Wales, FL | $56,429 | $22,250 | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | North Carolina State University at RaleighBachelor's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $53,969 | $19,000 | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Blacksburg, VA | $53,568 | Not available | -69% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Oregon State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Corvallis, OR | $53,547 | $26,000 | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Oregon State University-Cascades CampusBachelor's Degree | Bend, OR | $53,547 | $26,000 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | University of Nebraska-LincolnBachelor's Degree | Lincoln, NE | $52,997 | Not available | -68% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $52,932 | $26,000 | -75% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Delaware State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Dover, DE | $52,676 | $23,625 | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Dickinson State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Dickinson, ND | $52,529 | Not available | -68% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Truman State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kirksville, MO | $52,303 | $19,500 | -68% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | Tennessee Technological UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cookeville, TN | $52,085 | $14,915 | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | East Texas A&M UniversityBachelor's Degree | Commerce, TX | $51,983 | $20,500 | -69% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Langston UniversityBachelor's Degree | Langston, OK | $51,091 | $28,310 | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Western Kentucky UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bowling Green, KY | $51,065 | $23,656 | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | West Texas A&M UniversityBachelor's Degree | Canyon, TX | $50,396 | $13,460 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | University of Missouri-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, MO | $49,480 | Not available | -83% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Prairie View A&M UniversityBachelor's Degree | Prairie View, TX | $49,403 | $28,500 | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | Northwest Missouri State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Maryville, MO | $49,328 | $18,250 | -82% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | Virginia State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Petersburg, VA | $48,778 | $25,545 | -84% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | The University of Tennessee-MartinBachelor's Degree | Martin, TN | $47,956 | $19,500 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | North Carolina A&T State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Greensboro, NC | $46,990 | $28,285 | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Missouri State University-SpringfieldBachelor's Degree | Springfield, MO | $46,412 | $20,625 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Morehead State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Morehead, KY | $45,255 | $25,000 | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Austin Peay State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Clarksville, TN | $45,020 | $18,625 | -100% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | Cameron UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lawton, OK | $44,175 | Not available | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | University of Hawaii at HiloBachelor's Degree | Hilo, HI | $44,096 | $26,345 | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | McNeese State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lake Charles, LA | $43,901 | $19,500 | -105% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Tennessee State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Nashville, TN | $42,503 | $27,000 | -110% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | University of Puerto Rico-MayaguezBachelor's Degree | Mayaguez, PR | $35,896 | $10,000 | -136% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | Auburn UniversityBachelor's Degree | Auburn, AL | Not available | $17,625 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $24,323 |
| 46 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical UniversityBachelor's Degree | Tallahassee, FL | Not available | $16,750 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $13,739 |
| 47 | Fort Hays State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Hays, KS | Not available | $20,340 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $12,569 |
| 48 | Southern University and A&M CollegeBachelor's Degree | Baton Rouge, LA | Not available | $28,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $20,077 |
| 49 | Alcorn State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Alcorn State, MS | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $13,265 |
| 50 | New Mexico State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Las Cruces, NM | Not available | $22,993 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $8,889 |
| 51 | Southern University Law CenterBachelor's Degree | Baton Rouge, LA | Not available | $28,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
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.