Agricultural Engineeringat Cornell University
Graduates earn $54,435/yr in their first year — about 16.0% below the national Agricultural Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $988K; scenarios range from $838K to $1,025K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Cornell University
A Cornell degree in Agricultural Engineering carries significant weight, but the financial outcomes reflect the unique dynamics of this vital field. Unlike some engineering disciplines often tied directly to high-paying tech or finance sectors, agricultural engineering often leads to critical roles in areas like sustainable food systems, environmental management, bioenergy, or precision agriculture. You'll find graduates shaping policy, innovating at major agribusinesses like John Deere or Cargill, or contributing to ecological solutions with government agencies. The program's strength in research and its land-grant mission can also steer some into academia or specialized R&D roles, which may have different initial salary trajectories than general corporate engineering. Given the high AI risk, focusing your studies on data analytics, automation, and robotics within agricultural contexts will be crucial for long-term career resilience.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Cornell University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Agricultural Engineering
How Cornell University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Cornell University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Cornell University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Agricultural Engineering at Cornell University
What does a 53/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Agricultural Engineering at Cornell University?
At 53/100, the score looks reasonable — but Agricultural Engineering is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Should I worry about AI if I study Agricultural Engineering at Cornell University?
The 45% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is Cornell University a good choice for Agricultural Engineering despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If Cornell University's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
What do students actually pay for Agricultural Engineering at Cornell University?
The 51% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $264,056. At a net cost of $129,348, the earnings multiple improves substantially.