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Agriculture · Plant Sciences Rank #9 of 50

Plant Sciencesat Northwest Missouri State University

Graduates earn $47,170/yr in their first year — about 10.0% above the national Plant Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $545K; scenarios range from $502K to $551K depending on AI disruption.

Maryville, MO Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
56 SOLID
56
Optimistic
50
Pessimistic
Earnings
$47,170
1-year post-graduation
ROI
13.6x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$545K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
46% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Northwest Missouri State University

While the earnings figures are solid, they don't capture the full story of this program's strength. Northwest Missouri State’s advantage comes from its deep integration with the regional agricultural economy. You won't just be in a classroom; you'll be immersed in the industry itself at the university's expansive R.T. Wright Farm. This creates a powerful recruiting pipeline directly into major agribusinesses like Corteva and Bayer, as well as large-scale farm management operations that dominate the Midwest. Your degree becomes a signal to employers that you have practical, hands-on experience in modern crop science, from precision agriculture to soil health. To maximize this advantage, secure an internship with a local co-op or seed company early on; that real-world credential will be your most valuable asset upon graduation.

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
$502K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score50/100
Earnings Multiple12.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$545K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score56/100
Earnings Multiple13.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$551K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score56/100
Earnings Multiple13.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Career Paths

Where Plant Sciences 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
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary
+4.0% 10-yr growth · 100 openings/yr
$100,830/yr
Moderate
2
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
-1.3% 10-yr growth · 85,500 openings/yr
$87,980/yr
Moderate
3
Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary
+4.1% 10-yr growth · 800 openings/yr
$86,350/yr
High
4
Animal scientists
+5.8% 10-yr growth · 200 openings/yr
$79,120/yr
High
5
Soil and plant scientists
+5.4% 10-yr growth · 1,700 openings/yr
$71,410/yr
Moderate
6
Conservation scientists
+3.4% 10-yr growth · 2,500 openings/yr
$67,950/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Plant Sciences

How Northwest Missouri State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
65
DW Score
$63K
1-yr earn
15.7x
ROI
Top score
California State University-Fresno
CA · Public
68
DW Score
$60K
1-yr earn
27.2x
ROI
South Dakota State University
SD · Public
63
DW Score
$59K
1-yr earn
17.1x
ROI
University of Minnesota-Crookston
MN · Public
57
DW Score
$58K
1-yr earn
10.9x
ROI
Kansas State University
KS · Public
57
DW Score
$50K
1-yr earn
13.1x
ROI
Also at Northwest Missouri State University

Other top programs at Northwest Missouri State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Northwest Missouri 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Plant Sciences at Northwest Missouri State University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Plant Sciences at Northwest Missouri State University?

A score of 56/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Plant Sciences field.

Will AI replace Plant Sciences careers?

With 45% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $502,295 in decade earnings vs $551,036 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Northwest Missouri State University's Plant Sciences program stand out?

Ranked #9 of 50 programs nationally, Northwest Missouri State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.