Plant Sciencesat Southeast Missouri State University
Graduates earn $48,546/yr in their first year — about 14.0% above the national Plant Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $542K; scenarios range from $500K to $548K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Southeast Missouri State University
While the earnings numbers are strong, they don't capture the full picture of your career trajectory here. Southeast Missouri State's success is rooted in its location. Situated in the heart of the fertile Missouri Bootheel, the program is a direct pipeline into the region's massive agribusiness economy. You won't just be studying theory; you'll gain hands-on experience relevant to the major agricultural producers like Bayer, Tyson, and Riceland Foods that dominate the local job market. This practical focus means you'll graduate ready to manage large-scale farming operations, consult on crop science, or move into agricultural sales. The high AI risk score reflects the rapid automation of farming, making your expertise in data analysis and new technology crucial. For your career, focus on internships with ag-tech firms to ensure you're not just a plant scientist, but a modern agricultural strategist.
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 Southeast Missouri 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 Southeast Missouri State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Southeast Missouri State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Southeast 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 →Frequently asked about Plant Sciences at Southeast Missouri State University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Plant Sciences at Southeast Missouri State University?
A score of 57/100 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 $500,267 in decade earnings vs $548,094 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Southeast Missouri State University's Plant Sciences program stand out?
Ranked #8 of 50 programs nationally, Southeast Missouri State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.