Plant Sciencesat South Dakota State University
Graduates earn $58,787/yr in their first year — about 38.0% above the national Plant Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $575K; scenarios range from $525K to $584K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at South Dakota State University
As a land-grant university in the heart of the Midwest, South Dakota State is deeply embedded in the agricultural industry. Your education here won’t be purely theoretical; it's hands-on, connected directly to the needs of large-scale producers and cutting-edge agribusiness firms like Corteva and Syngenta. The program's reputation means that regional and national employers actively recruit graduates for roles in crop management, precision agriculture, and seed technology. You’ll be prepared for the modern farm, which is less about manual labor and more about data analysis, genetics, and sustainable systems management. Given the increasing automation in agriculture, your key advantage will be adaptability. Therefore, actively seek out research opportunities with faculty to develop the problem-solving skills that technology can’t replicate; this will secure your long-term value in the industry.
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 South Dakota State University'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 South Dakota State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
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 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 South Dakota State University
What does a 63/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Plant Sciences at South Dakota State University?
At 63/100, South Dakota State University's Plant Sciences program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Should I worry about AI if I study Plant Sciences at South Dakota State University?
The 45% 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.