Program Analysis
At $49,393 per year, Plant Sciences graduates from Iowa State University earn slightly above the $42,710 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Plant Sciences programs nationally.
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 7% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $17,039 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #16 of 50 Plant Sciences programs, Iowa State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $53,958 are relatively flat compared to the $49,393 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.