Soil Sciencesat Michigan State University
Graduates earn $50,770/yr in their first year — about 1.0% above the national Soil Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $558K; scenarios range from $510K to $565K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Michigan State University
As a premier land-grant university, Michigan State’s strength in agricultural sciences is deeply rooted in the state’s economy. This isn’t just an academic program; it’s a direct pipeline to careers in agribusiness, environmental consulting, and government agencies like the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, which has a strong Michigan presence. You'll find graduates working for major food producers managing crop health or for environmental firms handling land remediation projects. The earnings reflect stable, essential roles rather than high-flying corporate salaries. The high AI risk score points to the growing importance of data analysis and remote sensing in this field. To future-proof your career, your most valuable move is to pair your core science classes with skills in GIS, data modeling, or drone technology, making you the person who manages the tech, not the one replaced by it.
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 Soil 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.
Frequently asked about Soil Sciences at Michigan State University
What does a 46/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Soil Sciences at Michigan State University?
At 46/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Soil Sciences programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Should I worry about AI if I study Soil Sciences at Michigan State University?
The 47% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.