Soil Sciences at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
49 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
50
Optimistic
49
Base Case
43
Pessimistic
Earnings $55,322/yr (10% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Small (7,100 openings/yr)
ROI 10.3x earnings multiple (4.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #3 of 6 Soil Sciences programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Soil Sciences graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $559K $553K $507K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.4x 10.3x 9.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.4x 4.3x 4.0x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 42% 31%
DegreeOutlook Score 50 49 43

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$53,936
Out-of-state: $127,896 (4.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$72,436
-34% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,798
4.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,443
13% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's Soil Sciences graduates start at $55,322/yr — above the $50,153 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Soil Sciences programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Soil Sciences's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $22,798 in median debt clears quickly against $55,322 in annual earnings.

This program is one of 6 schools offering Soil Sciences in our dataset — a specialized field with limited comparison points.

Five-year earnings of $62,443 are relatively flat compared to the $55,322 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's 46% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, with 28,763 students enrolled in Knoxville, TN.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville →

Top Career Paths

Microbiologists $87,330/yr
Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary $86,350/yr
Soil and plant scientists $71,410/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Soil Sciences at Other Schools

Other Majors at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Soil Sciences at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville?
A score of 49/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Soil Sciences. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Soil Sciences careers?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $506,513 in decade earnings vs $559,202 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →