Agriculture, General at Illinois State University

Normal, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
45 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
46
Optimistic
45
Base Case
37
Pessimistic
Earnings $47,295/yr (17% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Small (6,800 openings/yr)
ROI 8.8x earnings multiple (5.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #7 of 47 Agriculture, General programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Agriculture, General graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $573K $566K $515K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.9x 8.8x 8.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.1x 5.0x 4.6x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 39% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 46 45 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)
$64,084
Out-of-state: $112,344 (5.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$75,984
-19% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,750
4.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$64,041
35% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $47,295 per year, Agriculture, General graduates from Illinois State University earn slightly above the $40,365 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.8x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Agriculture, General's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $15,750 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #7 of 47 nationally, this is a top-5% Agriculture, General program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $47,295 to $64,041 over five years — a 35% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Illinois State University

With 89% of applicants admitted, Illinois State University prioritizes broad access, serving 18,414 students in Normal, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Illinois State University →

Top Career Paths

Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary $86,350/yr
Food scientists and technologists $85,310/yr
Animal scientists $79,120/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Agriculture, General at Other Schools

Other Majors at Illinois State University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Agriculture, General at Illinois State University?
A score of 45/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Agriculture, General. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Agriculture, General careers?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $514,655 in decade earnings vs $573,123 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Illinois State University's Agriculture, General program stand out?
Ranked #7 of 47 programs nationally, Illinois State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →