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Botany/Plant Biology at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Arcata, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
36 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
37
Optimistic
36
Base Case
34
Pessimistic
Earnings $30,713/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Medium (20,400 openings/yr)
ROI 17.0x earnings multiple (6.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #1 of 3 Botany/Plant Biology programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Botany/Plant Biology graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $545K $540K $497K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.2x 17.0x 15.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.9x 6.8x 6.3x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 44% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 37 36 34

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$31,652
Out-of-state: $79,172 (6.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$52,668
-66% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,224
70% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $30,713/yr, roughly in line with the $32,721 national median for Botany/Plant Biology. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 17.0x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 49% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With only 3 programs offering Botany/Plant Biology nationally, this is a niche field. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt ranks #1 among them.

Earnings growth from $30,713 to $52,224 over five years (70% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt accepts 99% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 5,491 in Arcata, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 46% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Biological scientists, all other $93,330/yr
Biological science teachers, postsecondary $83,460/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 3 schools offering Botany/Plant Biology →

Botany/Plant Biology at Other Schools

Iowa State University ($34,442) North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($33,009)

Other Majors at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($55,589) Forestry ($52,810) Plant Sciences ($44,038) Computer Science ($37,153) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($36,586) Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics ($36,444) Political Science and Government ($36,079) Social Work ($35,693)

Frequently Asked Questions

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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →