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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Agricultural Production Operations associate's degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · 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 close to similar programs.

$4,231 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
23.6% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−88% · Negative 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.

What stays fixed$46,669 observed annual earnings · 2 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+35%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$36,083 → $48,879
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
45Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
51Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
67Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$30,528Awarding-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.

51Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
21Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
21Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
27Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
41Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$35,969Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$46,669$10,700 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$24,953

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

02 · BORROWING$11,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$46,669

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$117/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.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$24,953Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$36,951Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE54.8%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE86.2%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.

$36,083Year 1
$46,669Year 4
$48,879Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

3.0% 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$3,889
Estimated loan payment$117
67borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$46,669 vs. $42,438

$4,231 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.
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers$66,780 median wageVA estimate · 50 jobs · 11-9013$57,410–$83,630 middle 50% of VA wages-3.4% projected U.S. growth · 70,800 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFirst-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$56,990 median wageVA estimate · 670 jobs · 45-1011$48,550–$70,920 middle 50% of VA wages+3.8% projected U.S. growth · 7,200 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentAgricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary$105,330 median wageVA estimate · 230 jobs · 25-1041$87,060–$138,500 middle 50% of VA wages+2.9% projected U.S. growth · 800 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeFarm and Home Management Educators$76,710 median wageVA estimate · 520 jobs · 25-9021$55,000–$85,690 middle 50% of VA wages-3.2% projected U.S. growth · 800 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeAnimal Breeders$51,130 median wageU.S. estimate · 1,330 jobs · 45-2021+3.0% projected U.S. growth · 1,000 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentForestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary$132,820 median wageVA estimate · 60 jobs · 25-1043$105,760–$158,470 middle 50% of VA wages+2.8% projected U.S. growth · 100 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeConservation Scientists$77,380 median wageVA estimate · 480 jobs · 19-1031$60,190–$108,890 middle 50% of VA wages+5.3% projected U.S. growth · 2,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSoil and Plant Scientists$73,920 median wageVA estimate · 140 jobs · 19-1013$62,690–$89,870 middle 50% of VA wages+6.7% projected U.S. growth · 1,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAnimal Scientists$68,940 median wageU.S. estimate · 3,100 jobs · 19-1011+5.8% projected U.S. growth · 200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFarmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals$38,670 median wageVA estimate · 630 jobs · 45-2093$33,780–$50,560 middle 50% of VA wages-3.2% projected U.S. growth · 26,600 openings/yrTypical entry: No formal educational credential
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Cedar Rapids, IA

Kirkwood Community College

$14,449 higher earnings · $1,000 less debt · $15,248 lower annual net price

Earnings
$61,118
Debt
$10,000
Annual net price
$9,705
View outcomes →
Norfolk, NE

Northeast Community College

$25,057 higher earnings · $16,409 lower annual net price

Earnings
$71,726
Debt
Not available
Annual net price
$8,544
View outcomes →
Wooster, OH

Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute

$9,565 higher earnings · $7,144 lower annual net price

Earnings
$56,234
Debt
$12,000
Annual net price
$17,809
View outcomes →
Columbus, OH

Ohio State University-Main Campus

$9,565 higher earnings · $7,614 lower annual net price

Earnings
$56,234
Debt
$12,000
Annual net price
$17,339
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

51 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

Calculate my payoff →