Plant Sciences: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 49 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$139,986 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.
22.4 yrsModeled economic break-even
−55%Modeled 10-year ROI
$56,265Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$56,265Median reported earnings · year 4
$54,313Average reported earnings · year 5
$20,500Median federal debt
37thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
49Reporting programs
45With 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
- $61,971
- Federal debt
- $11,717
- Reporting programs
- 2
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $56,265
- Federal debt
- $20,500
- Reporting programs
- 49
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $72,129
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 8
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$50,653National median$56,26575th percentile$61,397
45 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.
49 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$82,487Federal debt$16,666Annual net price$16,6652South Dakota State UniversityBrookings, SD · PublicYear-4 earnings$78,494Federal debt$23,125Annual net price$19,8413California State University, FresnoFresno, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$77,034Federal debt$13,000Annual net price$7,0004University of California, DavisDavis, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$72,335Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$14,7415California State University, ChicoChico, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$68,629Federal debt$15,000Annual net price$14,4806California State Polytechnic University-PomonaPomona, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$66,714Federal debt$13,500Annual net price$11,5317Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station, TX · PublicYear-4 earnings$66,513Federal debt$21,654Annual net price$21,3158University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL · PublicYear-4 earnings$63,279Federal debt$15,750Annual net price$14,3559University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbia, MO · PublicYear-4 earnings$62,957Federal debt$17,983Annual net price$20,26810University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, NE · PublicYear-4 earnings$61,946Federal debt$21,875Annual net price$17,74711The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville, TN · PublicYear-4 earnings$61,587Federal debt$22,564Annual net price$18,97612Arkansas State UniversityJonesboro, AR · PublicYear-4 earnings$61,397Federal debt$15,125Annual net price$12,36613University of Wisconsin-PlattevillePlatteville, WI · PublicYear-4 earnings$61,085Federal debt$19,125Annual net price$16,03214Iowa State UniversityAmes, IA · PublicYear-4 earnings$60,997Federal debt$20,500Annual net price$18,58915University of Wisconsin-River FallsRiver Falls, WI · PublicYear-4 earnings$59,732Federal debt$22,251Annual net price$14,05416University of Minnesota-CrookstonCrookston, MN · PublicYear-4 earnings$59,240Federal debt$23,793Annual net price$12,21217Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$58,960Federal debt$15,990Annual net price$28,69018Kansas State UniversityManhattan, KS · PublicYear-4 earnings$58,603Federal debt$21,905Annual net price$19,40619Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OR · PublicYear-4 earnings$57,950Federal debt$25,096Annual net price$19,60420Oregon State University-Cascades CampusBend, OR · PublicYear-4 earnings$57,950Federal debt$25,096Annual net price$18,04821Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH · PublicYear-4 earnings$56,812Federal debt$16,105Annual net price$17,33922Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg, VA · PublicYear-4 earnings$56,630Federal debt$20,687Annual net price$24,95323Southeast Missouri State UniversityCape Girardeau, MO · PublicYear-4 earnings$56,265Federal debt$15,789Annual net price$15,88224Chadron State CollegeChadron, NE · PublicYear-4 earnings$53,484Federal debt$15,989Annual net price$12,54925University of FloridaGainesville, FL · PublicYear-4 earnings$53,270Federal debt$12,281Annual net price$6,541
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$82,4872South Dakota State University$78,4943California State University, Fresno$77,0344University of California, Davis$72,3355California State University, Chico$68,6296California State Polytechnic University-Pomona$66,7147Texas A&M University-College Station$66,5138University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign$63,2799University of Missouri-Columbia$62,95710University of Nebraska-Lincoln$61,946Observed 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 · 7 crosswalk linksSoil and Plant ScientistsSOC 19-1013 · 7 crosswalk linksFarm and Home Management EducatorsSOC 25-9021 · 5 crosswalk linksFarmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural ManagersSOC 11-9013 · 5 crosswalk linksAgricultural TechniciansSOC 19-4012 · 2 crosswalk linksFirst-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry WorkersSOC 45-1011 · 2 crosswalk linksAnimal ScientistsSOC 19-1011 · 1 crosswalk linksConservation ScientistsSOC 19-1031 · 1 crosswalk linksForestry and Conservation Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1043 · 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 | $82,487 | $16,666 | +52% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | South Dakota State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Brookings, SD | $78,494 | $23,125 | +29% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | California State University, FresnoBachelor's Degree | Fresno, CA | $77,034 | $13,000 | +54% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | University of California, DavisBachelor's Degree | Davis, CA | $72,335 | Not available | +14% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | California State University, ChicoBachelor's Degree | Chico, CA | $68,629 | $15,000 | -1% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | California State Polytechnic University-PomonaBachelor's Degree | Pomona, CA | $66,714 | $13,500 | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $66,513 | $21,654 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's Degree | Champaign, IL | $63,279 | $15,750 | -23% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | University of Missouri-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, MO | $62,957 | $17,983 | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | University of Nebraska-LincolnBachelor's Degree | Lincoln, NE | $61,946 | $21,875 | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleBachelor's Degree | Knoxville, TN | $61,587 | $22,564 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Arkansas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Jonesboro, AR | $61,397 | $15,125 | -29% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | University of Wisconsin-PlattevilleBachelor's Degree | Platteville, WI | $61,085 | $19,125 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Iowa State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ames, IA | $60,997 | $20,500 | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | University of Wisconsin-River FallsBachelor's Degree | River Falls, WI | $59,732 | $22,251 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | University of Minnesota-CrookstonBachelor's Degree | Crookston, MN | $59,240 | $23,793 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Cornell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ithaca, NY | $58,960 | $15,990 | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Kansas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Manhattan, KS | $58,603 | $21,905 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Oregon State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Corvallis, OR | $57,950 | $25,096 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Oregon State University-Cascades CampusBachelor's Degree | Bend, OR | $57,950 | $25,096 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Ohio State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $56,812 | $16,105 | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Blacksburg, VA | $56,630 | $20,687 | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Southeast Missouri State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cape Girardeau, MO | $56,265 | $15,789 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Chadron State CollegeBachelor's Degree | Chadron, NE | $53,484 | $15,989 | -63% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | University of FloridaBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $53,270 | $12,281 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | Clemson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Clemson, SC | $52,844 | $21,724 | -71% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $52,707 | $15,391 | -69% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | University of WyomingBachelor's Degree | Laramie, WY | $52,652 | Not available | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $52,329 | $23,673 | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Auburn UniversityBachelor's Degree | Auburn, AL | $52,104 | $20,500 | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | University of Massachusetts-AmherstBachelor's Degree | Amherst, MA | $51,912 | $27,000 | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | North Carolina State University at RaleighBachelor's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $51,696 | $22,156 | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at CobleskillBachelor's Degree | Cobleskill, NY | $51,399 | Not available | -75% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | Mississippi State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Mississippi State, MS | $50,653 | $20,311 | -77% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | West Virginia UniversityBachelor's Degree | Morgantown, WV | $50,249 | $25,000 | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Delaware Valley UniversityBachelor's Degree | Doylestown, PA | $48,031 | Not available | -90% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Texas A&M University-KingsvilleBachelor's Degree | Kingsville, TX | $47,878 | $21,000 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Michigan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | East Lansing, MI | $47,404 | $24,250 | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | University of IdahoBachelor's Degree | Moscow, ID | $47,392 | Not available | -90% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | Missouri State University-SpringfieldBachelor's Degree | Springfield, MO | $47,267 | $18,487 | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | Montana State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bozeman, MT | $45,392 | $20,500 | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | Colorado State University-Fort CollinsBachelor's Degree | Fort Collins, CO | $42,034 | $20,750 | -111% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Temple UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $35,728 | Not available | -132% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | University of VermontBachelor's Degree | Burlington, VT | $34,672 | Not available | -140% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | University of Puerto Rico-MayaguezBachelor's Degree | Mayaguez, PR | $30,252 | $9,200 | -159% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | University of DelawareBachelor's Degree | Newark, DE | Not available | $24,336 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $17,799 |
| 47 | Northwest Missouri State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Maryville, MO | Not available | $23,818 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $16,244 |
| 48 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | Not available | $17,881 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $24,406 |
| 49 | Washington State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pullman, WA | Not available | $17,539 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $14,971 |
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.