Agricultural Public Services: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 3 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$60,588 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$60,588Median year-4 earnings
$19,449Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$60,588Median reported earnings · year 4
$52,880Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
17thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
2IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
3With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 1 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
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.
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$58,999National median$60,58875th percentile$60,588
3 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.
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →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.
3 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Iowa State UniversityAmes, IA · PublicYear-4 earnings$60,737Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$18,5892Tarleton State UniversityStephenville, TX · PublicYear-4 earnings$60,588Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$20,7833The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville, TN · PublicYear-4 earnings$58,999Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$18,976
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Iowa State University$60,7372Tarleton State University$60,5883The University of Tennessee-Knoxville$58,999Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-8%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$62,200 median wage39,250 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-3023-5.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.4k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$36,240–$144,140 10th–90th percentileFarm and Home Management Educators$60,220 median wage8,220 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-9021-3.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Master's degree$37,650–$85,060 10th–90th percentileAudio and Video Technicians$58,100 median wage70,230 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-4011+3.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 6.6k annual openingsTypical entry education: Postsecondary nondegree award$37,990–$100,650 10th–90th percentileNO MATCHUnreported U.S. jobs · SOC 99-9999
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa State UniversityMaster's Degree | Ames, IA | $60,737 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,589 |
| 2 | Tarleton State UniversityMaster's Degree | Stephenville, TX | $60,588 | Not available | Baseline needed | $20,783 |
| 3 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleMaster's Degree | Knoxville, TN | $58,999 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,976 |
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.