Agricultural Engineering at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
64 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
65
Optimistic
64
Base Case
62
Pessimistic
Earnings $62,032/yr (-5% vs median)
AI Risk High (45% exposed)
Job Market Medium (18,700 openings/yr)
ROI 12.5x earnings multiple (5.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #9 of 21 Agricultural Engineering programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Agricultural Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $825K $802K $700K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.9x 12.5x 10.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.0x 5.8x 5.1x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 68% 51%
DegreeOutlook Score 65 64 62

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$64,016
Out-of-state: $138,004 (5.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$60,804
5% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
3.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$87,830
42% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $62,032/yr, Agricultural Engineering graduates from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign land near the $64,972 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 12.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 45% task exposure — and the 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $19,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #9 out of 21 programs, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Agricultural Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $62,032 to $87,830 shows 42% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 44% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, with 34,623 students enrolled in Champaign, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr
Agricultural engineers $84,630/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Agricultural Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Agricultural Engineering program score?
This program scores 64/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Agricultural Engineering graduates.
How vulnerable is Agricultural Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Agricultural Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 45% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →