Plant Sciencesat North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Graduates earn $42,008/yr in their first year — about 2.0% below the national Plant Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $521K; scenarios range from $484K to $524K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at NC State
North Carolina State University at Raleigh's Plant Sciences program produces graduates earning $42,008/yr — within striking distance of the $42,710 national average for this field.
The 14.6x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.
AI risk is moderate — 45% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $19,432 in median debt clears quickly against $42,008 in annual earnings.
Ranked #19 out of 50 programs, North Carolina State University at Raleigh's Plant Sciences offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $42,008 to $53,543 shows 27% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.
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 NC State'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 NC State stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at NC State
Other highest-scoring programs offered at NC State, 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 NC State
How does North Carolina State University at Raleigh's Plant Sciences program score?
This program scores 51/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Plant Sciences graduates.
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.