Plant Sciencesat Michigan State University
Graduates earn $35,701/yr in their first year — about 16.0% below the national Plant Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $492K; scenarios range from $461K to $492K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Michigan State University
While the career paths listed are impressive, they don't reflect the typical entry-level roles for a bachelor's degree holder. Many of those high-paying positions, like postsecondary teaching or senior agricultural management, require a graduate degree or decades of experience. Your initial career is more likely to be as a research assistant, greenhouse technician, or a field scout for an agricultural supplier. While Michigan State is a premier land-grant university with deep roots in agriculture, the regional job market for these entry-level science roles is not as robust or high-paying as in biotech hubs. To overcome these financial hurdles, you must treat your bachelor's as a stepping stone. Your key advice: plan from day one to pursue a master's or Ph.D., leveraging MSU's strong research facilities to build a compelling graduate school application.
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 Michigan State 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 Plant Sciences
How Michigan State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Michigan State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Michigan State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Plant Sciences offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Plant Sciences trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Plant Sciences at Michigan State University
How does Michigan State University's Plant Sciences program score?
This program scores 35/100 — on the lower end for Plant Sciences. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Plant Sciences to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Plant Sciences careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 45% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Plant Sciences earnings lower at Michigan State University?
Lower starting pay at Michigan State University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.