Plant Sciences at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus
Bend, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
45
Optimistic
44
Base Case
39
Pessimistic
Earnings
$38,397/yr (-10% vs median)
AI Risk
High (45% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (103,300 openings/yr)
ROI
10.4x earnings multiple (3.8x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Plant Sciences graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $529K | $526K | $487K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 10.5x | 10.4x | 9.7x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.8x | 3.8x | 3.5x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 46% | 42% | 32% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 45 | 44 | 39 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$50,376
Out-of-state: $139,776 (3.8x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,005
7.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,355
39% growth from Year 1
About Oregon State University-Cascades Campus
A 68% admission rate makes Oregon State University-Cascades Campus accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with a smaller student body of 1,054 in Bend, OR.
See all programs and financial aid at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus →Top Career Paths
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary
$100,830/yr
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
$87,980/yr
Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary
$86,350/yr
Compare & Explore
Plant Sciences at Other Schools
Other Majors at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus
Explore the Trade Alternative
Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Oregon State University-Cascades Campus's Plant Sciences program score?
This program scores 44/100 — on the lower end for Plant Sciences. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →