Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $62,869 put North Dakota State University-Main Campus's Agricultural Production Operations program 58% above the national median of $39,807 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.
The 13.6x 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 — 38% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
With first-year pay of $62,869 far exceeding the $21,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
A #1 ranking out of 17 Agricultural Production Operations programs nationally puts North Dakota State University-Main Campus in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.
Earnings growth is modest: $62,869 to $72,312 over five years (15% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.