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Agriculture · Agricultural Business Rank #19 of 77

Agricultural Businessat South Dakota State University

Graduates earn $51,222/yr in their first year — about 7.0% above the national Agricultural Business average. Base-case 10-year earnings $552K; scenarios range from $506K to $558K depending on AI disruption.

Brookings, SD Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
68 SOLID
68
Optimistic
60
Pessimistic
Earnings
$51,222
1-year post-graduation
ROI
15.9x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$552K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
50% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at South Dakota State University

South Dakota State University's Agricultural Business graduates start at $51,222/yr — above the $48,075 national average, though not by a wide margin.

With a 14.8x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 9% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Agricultural Business career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $22,000 in median debt clears quickly against $51,222 in annual earnings.

South Dakota State University ranks #19 among 77 Agricultural Business programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

A 23% earnings increase from $51,222 to $62,893 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

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
$506K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score60/100
Earnings Multiple13.6x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$552K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score68/100
Earnings Multiple14.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$558K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score68/100
Earnings Multiple15.0x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Career Paths

Where Agricultural Business 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
Economics teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 1,200 openings/yr
$119,980/yr
Moderate
2
Economists
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 900 openings/yr
$115,440/yr
High
3
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
-1.3% 10-yr growth · 85,500 openings/yr
$87,980/yr
Moderate
4
Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary
+4.1% 10-yr growth · 800 openings/yr
$86,350/yr
High
5
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
+0.3% 10-yr growth · 114,800 openings/yr
$66,780/yr
High
6
First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
-0.3% 10-yr growth · 144,500 openings/yr
$66,140/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 Business

How South Dakota State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Cornell University
NY · Private nonprofit
70
DW Score
$92K
1-yr earn
3.9x
ROI
University of Nebraska at Kearney
NE · Public
71
DW Score
$61K
1-yr earn
17.9x
ROI
North Dakota State University-Main Campus
ND · Public
71
DW Score
$60K
1-yr earn
15.3x
ROI
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
IL · Public
71
DW Score
$56K
1-yr earn
12.8x
ROI
University of Arkansas
AR · Public
70
DW Score
$55K
1-yr earn
16.2x
ROI
Also at South Dakota State University

Other top programs at South Dakota State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at South Dakota State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Agricultural Business offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Agricultural Business trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Agricultural Business at South Dakota State University

What does a 68/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Agricultural Business at South Dakota State University?

At 68/100, South Dakota State University's Agricultural Business program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.

Should I worry about AI if I study Agricultural Business at South Dakota State University?

The 48% 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 South Dakota State University one of the best schools for Agricultural Business?

Among 77 Agricultural Business programs, South Dakota State University's #19 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.