Home Schools California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Botany & Plant Biology
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Botany & Plant Biologyat California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Graduates earn $30,713/yr in their first year — about 6.0% below the national Botany & Plant Biology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $540K; scenarios range from $497K to $545K depending on AI disruption.

Arcata, CA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
36 AT RISK
37
Optimistic
34
Pessimistic
Earnings
$30,713
1-year post-graduation
ROI
15.5x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$540K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
54% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Cal Poly Humboldt's Botany program places you directly in a unique ecological laboratory, leveraging Northern California's rich biodiversity. This immersive environment shapes career trajectories, often leading graduates into vital roles in environmental management, conservation, sustainable agriculture, and ecological restoration, frequently within public agencies or specialized non-profits. While initial compensation may reflect these mission-driven fields, the deep practical experience and hands-on skills you'll gain are highly valued for long-term specialization and leadership. The indicated AI risk primarily targets routine data collection and identification; future-proof your career by mastering advanced analytical techniques, fieldwork leadership, and complex problem-solving that demands human judgment. Cultivate robust field skills and network within regional conservation and agricultural communities to open doors to these specialized opportunities.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$497K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score34/100
Earnings Multiple15.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$540K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score36/100
Earnings Multiple17.0x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$545K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score37/100
Earnings Multiple17.2x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Botany & Plant Biology graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Natural sciences managers
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$161,180/yr
High
2
Biological scientists, all other
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 4,800 openings/yr
$93,330/yr
Moderate
3
Biological science teachers, postsecondary
+7.3% 10-yr growth · 5,400 openings/yr
$83,460/yr
Moderate
4
Soil and plant scientists
+5.4% 10-yr growth · 1,700 openings/yr
$71,410/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Botany & Plant Biology

How California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Iowa State University
IA · Public
30
DW Score
$34K
1-yr earn
7.2x
ROI
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
NC · Public
30
DW Score
$33K
1-yr earn
8.3x
ROI
Also at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Other top programs at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Other highest-scoring programs offered at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Botany & Plant Biology at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

How does California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt's Botany & Plant Biology program score?

This program scores 36/100 — on the lower end for Botany & Plant Biology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Botany & Plant Biology to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Botany & Plant Biology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 49% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.