Plant Sciencesat University of California-Davis
Graduates earn $43,873/yr in their first year — about 3.0% above the national Plant Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $497K; scenarios range from $465K to $497K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UC Davis
First-year earnings of $43,873 track close to the $42,710 national median for Plant Sciences programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
A 8.1x earnings multiple over ten years puts this program in solid financial territory. Tuition is well-justified by projected earnings.
The 6% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Plant Sciences career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
A #31 ranking among 50 Plant Sciences programs places University of California-Davis in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
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 UC Davis'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 UC Davis stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UC Davis
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UC Davis, 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 UC Davis
What does a 43/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Plant Sciences at University of California-Davis?
At 43/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Plant Sciences programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Should I worry about AI if I study Plant Sciences at University of California-Davis?
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.