How much do Plant Sciences bachelor's degree graduates from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo earn?

The reported median is $82,487 four years after completion.

How much federal debt do graduates of this program have?

The reported median federal debt among borrowers is $16,666.

Is this program above or below similar programs?

Reported year-four earnings are 46% above the national median for the same field and degree level.

← Program directory

COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Plant Sciences bachelor's degree at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

What this page covers

Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are notably above similar programs.

$25,920 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings: 20.2% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff: $48,718 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff: +52% · Positive payoff
Available price data: College-wide context only

PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →

$0Annual price+$194,870

$14,000Annual price+$138,870

$17,000Current college-wide context+$126,870

$28,000Annual price+$82,870

$42,000Annual price+$26,870

$56,000Annual price−$29,130

$70,000Annual price−$85,130

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+17%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$63,129 → $74,094

71Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

78Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

91Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

48Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$29,330Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential

NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

163Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

46Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

91Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

75Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

93Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$36,082Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$82,487$46,405 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 15 Parent PLUS borrowers.

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$16,665

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$16,666

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$82,487

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$177/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$16,665Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$32,265Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE31.3%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE86.4%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$63,129Year 1

$82,487Year 4

$74,094Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

2.6% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$6,874

Estimated loan payment$177

48borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$82,487 vs. $56,567

$25,920 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary$109,930 median wageCA estimate · 400 jobs · 25-1041$77,530–$136,710 middle 50% of CA wages+2.9% projected U.S. growth · 800 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSoil and Plant Scientists$91,930 median wageCA estimate · 1,440 jobs · 19-1013$73,270–$120,310 middle 50% of CA wages+6.7% projected U.S. growth · 1,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFarmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers$109,140 median wageCA estimate · 1,650 jobs · 11-9013$96,630–$142,180 middle 50% of CA wages-3.4% projected U.S. growth · 70,800 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFarm and Home Management Educators$98,770 median wageCA estimate · 40 jobs · 25-9021$97,030–$108,770 middle 50% of CA wages-3.2% projected U.S. growth · 800 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeAgricultural Technicians$60,320 median wageCA estimate · 2,420 jobs · 19-4012$46,710–$63,770 middle 50% of CA wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 2,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeFirst-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$56,280 median wageCA estimate · 10,450 jobs · 45-1011$45,440–$74,200 middle 50% of CA wages+3.8% projected U.S. growth · 7,200 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentConservation Scientists$79,810 median wageCA estimate · 2,110 jobs · 19-1031$64,310–$104,990 middle 50% of CA wages+5.3% projected U.S. growth · 2,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAnimal Scientists$68,940 median wageU.S. estimate · 140 jobs · 19-1011+5.8% projected U.S. growth · 200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeForestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary$61,730 median wageCA estimate · 110 jobs · 25-1043$48,630–$97,430 middle 50% of CA wages+2.8% projected U.S. growth · 100 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degree

Possible alternatives