Soil Sciences at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree
43 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
44
Optimistic
43
Base Case
37
Pessimistic
Earnings $46,287/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Small (7,100 openings/yr)
ROI 10.2x earnings multiple (3.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #5 of 6 Soil Sciences programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Soil Sciences graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $531K $527K $487K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.3x 10.2x 9.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.9x 3.9x 3.6x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 42% 31%
DegreeOutlook Score 44 43 37

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$51,584
Out-of-state: $135,004 (3.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$81,328
-58% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,500
4.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,660
20% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $46,287/yr, roughly in line with the $50,153 national median for Soil Sciences. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.2x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Soil Sciences programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Soil Sciences's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $46,287 far exceeding the $16,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

This program is one of 6 schools offering Soil Sciences in our dataset — a specialized field with limited comparison points.

Earnings grow from $46,287 to $55,660 over five years — a 20% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Colorado State University-Fort Collins accepts 90% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 25,148 in Fort Collins, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at Colorado State University-Fort Collins →

Top Career Paths

Microbiologists $87,330/yr
Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary $86,350/yr
Soil and plant scientists $71,410/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Soil Sciences at Other Schools

Other Majors at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Soil Sciences at Colorado State University-Fort Collins?
A score of 43/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Soil Sciences. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Soil Sciences careers?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $487,264 in decade earnings vs $530,617 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →