Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $32,236/yr fall 25% below the $42,710 national median for Plant Sciences. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
The financial case is thin at 2.0x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.
Some AI exposure exists in Plant Sciences's typical career paths, with 45% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.
At $14,250 in median debt against $32,236 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
Ranked #50 of 50 Plant Sciences programs, Cornell University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $50,679 show a 57% jump from the $32,236 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.