Agriculture, General: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 5 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$62,078 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.
$62,078Median year-4 earnings
$17,027Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$62,078Median reported earnings · year 4
$63,434Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
20thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
5Reporting programs
5With 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$59,177National median$62,07875th percentile$62,469
5 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.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Washington State University$100,3332Colorado State University-Fort Collins$62,4693Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University$62,0784East Texas A&M University$59,1775Texas A&M University-Kingsville$58,474Observed 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
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 | Washington State UniversityMaster's Degree | Pullman, WA | $100,333 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,971 |
| 2 | Colorado State University-Fort CollinsMaster's Degree | Fort Collins, CO | $62,469 | Not available | Baseline needed | $21,279 |
| 3 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityMaster's Degree | Blacksburg, VA | $62,078 | Not available | Baseline needed | $24,953 |
| 4 | East Texas A&M UniversityMaster's Degree | Commerce, TX | $59,177 | Not available | Baseline needed | $11,841 |
| 5 | Texas A&M University-KingsvilleMaster's Degree | Kingsville, TX | $58,474 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,090 |
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.