Plant Sciences: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 8 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$72,129 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.
$72,129Median year-4 earnings
$15,615Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$72,129Median reported earnings · year 4
$85,118Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
41thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
6IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
8With 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.
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$64,305National median$72,12975th percentile$92,076
8 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.
8 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Iowa State UniversityAmes, IA · PublicYear-4 earnings$116,149Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$18,5892University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL · PublicYear-4 earnings$97,965Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$14,3553University of FloridaGainesville, FL · PublicYear-4 earnings$92,076Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$6,5414University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, NE · PublicYear-4 earnings$73,346Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$17,7475Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH · PublicYear-4 earnings$70,911Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$17,3396Auburn UniversityAuburn, AL · PublicYear-4 earnings$69,054Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$24,3237University of GeorgiaAthens, GA · PublicYear-4 earnings$64,305Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$13,9368Texas A&M University-KingsvilleKingsville, TX · PublicYear-4 earnings$59,219Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$12,090
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Iowa State University$116,1492University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign$97,9653University of Florida$92,0764University of Nebraska-Lincoln$73,3465Ohio State University-Main Campus$70,9116Auburn University$69,0547University of Georgia$64,3058Texas A&M University-Kingsville$59,219Observed 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
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 | $116,149 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,589 |
| 2 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignMaster's Degree | Champaign, IL | $97,965 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,355 |
| 3 | University of FloridaMaster's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $92,076 | Not available | Baseline needed | $6,541 |
| 4 | University of Nebraska-LincolnMaster's Degree | Lincoln, NE | $73,346 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,747 |
| 5 | Ohio State University-Main CampusMaster's Degree | Columbus, OH | $70,911 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,339 |
| 6 | Auburn UniversityMaster's Degree | Auburn, AL | $69,054 | Not available | Baseline needed | $24,323 |
| 7 | University of GeorgiaMaster's Degree | Athens, GA | $64,305 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,936 |
| 8 | Texas A&M University-KingsvilleMaster's Degree | Kingsville, TX | $59,219 | 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.