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Engineering · Agricultural Engineering Rank #4 of 21

Agricultural Engineeringat North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Graduates earn $67,281/yr in their first year — about 4.0% above the national Agricultural Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $767K; scenarios range from $674K to $788K depending on AI disruption.

Raleigh, NC Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
69 SOLID
70
Optimistic
68
Pessimistic
Earnings
$67,281
1-year post-graduation
ROI
23.1x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$767K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
51% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at NC State

NC State's agricultural engineering program stands out due to its strong foundation as a leading land-grant institution, strategically located within North Carolina's diverse agricultural landscape and near the tech and biotech hub of the Research Triangle Park. Your education here isn't just about traditional farming; it delves into cutting-edge precision agriculture, sustainable resource management, and bio-processing, making you highly valuable to companies integrating advanced technology into food systems and environmental solutions. Recruiters from agricultural machinery giants, environmental consulting firms, and food processing innovators actively seek out NC State graduates, recognizing your blend of engineering rigor and practical application. While the field evolves rapidly with AI, your program equips you with the systems-thinking and design skills to leverage these tools. Proactively seek out internships in diverse areas—from field operations to R&D labs—to gain invaluable real-world experience and differentiate yourself.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$674K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score68/100
Earnings Multiple19.0x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$767K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score69/100
Earnings Multiple21.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$788K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score70/100
Earnings Multiple22.1x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to NC State's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Agricultural Engineering graduates typically work

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.

1
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
2
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$106,120/yr
High
3
Agricultural engineers
+5.9% 10-yr growth · 100 openings/yr
$84,630/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Agricultural Engineering

How NC State stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
VA · Public
65
DW Score
$75K
1-yr earn
12.0x
ROI
Texas A & M University-College Station
TX · Public
67
DW Score
$75K
1-yr earn
14.5x
ROI
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
70
DW Score
$73K
1-yr earn
19.3x
ROI
Iowa State University
IA · Public
68
DW Score
$72K
1-yr earn
17.5x
ROI
Purdue University-Main Campus
IN · Public
70
DW Score
$72K
1-yr earn
20.4x
ROI
Also at NC State

Other top programs at NC State

Other highest-scoring programs offered at NC State, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Agricultural Engineering at NC State

What does a 69/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Agricultural Engineering at North Carolina State University at Raleigh?

At 69/100, North Carolina State University at Raleigh's Agricultural Engineering program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.

Should I worry about AI if I study Agricultural Engineering at North Carolina State University at Raleigh?

The 45% 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.

Is North Carolina State University at Raleigh one of the best schools for Agricultural Engineering?

Among 21 Agricultural Engineering programs, North Carolina State University at Raleigh's #4 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.