Agricultural Businessat University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Graduates earn $55,934/yr in their first year — about 16.0% above the national Agricultural Business average. Base-case 10-year earnings $673K; scenarios range from $600K to $694K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UIUC
Your strong earnings potential from this program isn't just about farming; it's about Champaign's strategic position as a global hub for agribusiness. You'll be at the epicenter of the agricultural technology and commodity trading world, with corporate giants like ADM, John Deere, and Corteva actively recruiting on campus. This isn't just a degree in management—it's a direct pipeline into the highly quantitative fields of supply chain logistics, agricultural finance, and data analytics that drive the global food system. The curriculum prepares you for these complex corporate roles, not just managing a family farm. To stand out, focus your coursework and internships on the "ag-tech" side of the industry. Mastering data analysis and automation will be your best defense against the AI risk flagged for this field, making you an indispensable strategist rather than just a manager.
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 UIUC'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 Agricultural Business
How UIUC stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UIUC
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UIUC, 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 →Frequently asked about Agricultural Business at UIUC
How does University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Agricultural Business program score?
A score of 71/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Agricultural Business graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Agricultural Business to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Agricultural Business careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 48% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.