Agricultural Engineering at Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS · Public · Bachelor's Degree
55 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
56
Optimistic
55
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings $64,644/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk High (45% exposed)
Job Market Medium (18,700 openings/yr)
ROI 15.1x earnings multiple (5.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #17 of 21 Agricultural Engineering programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Agricultural Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $675K $662K $596K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.4x 15.1x 13.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.1x 5.9x 5.4x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 68% 51%
DegreeOutlook Score 56 55 53

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$43,768
Out-of-state: $111,264 (5.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$71,532
-63% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,757
3.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $64,644 track close to the $64,972 national median for Agricultural Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Agricultural Engineering programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Agricultural Engineering's typical career paths, with 45% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 12% gap from the optimistic case.

At $18,757 in median debt against $64,644 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #17 of 21 Agricultural Engineering programs, Kansas State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Kansas State University

Kansas State University has a 79% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 14,835 in Manhattan, KS.

See all programs and financial aid at Kansas State University →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr
Agricultural engineers $84,630/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Agricultural Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at Kansas State University

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Agricultural Engineering at Kansas State University?
This program scores 55/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Agricultural Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Agricultural Engineering careers?
With 45% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $596,143 in decade earnings vs $674,695 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →