Plant Sciencesat University of Minnesota-Crookston
Graduates earn $57,915/yr in their first year — about 36.0% above the national Plant Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $551K; scenarios range from $507K to $558K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Minnesota-Crookston
Your strong earnings potential from this program isn't just a number; it reflects your direct entry into the heart of a major agricultural economy. Located in the fertile Red River Valley, UMN Crookston has deep roots with the region’s powerful ag-tech and food production giants. This isn't just a theoretical degree; it's a hands-on apprenticeship for a career in precision agriculture, crop consulting, or sales with companies that dominate the local landscape. You'll be building a professional network with future employers from your first semester. The high AI risk score simply means the industry is rapidly evolving. To stay ahead, your key move is to actively seek out internships focusing on data analytics and drone technology—this will make you an indispensable manager, not just a technician, in the automated farms of the future.
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 University of Minnesota-Crookston'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 University of Minnesota-Crookston stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Minnesota-Crookston
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Minnesota-Crookston, 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 University of Minnesota-Crookston
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Plant Sciences at University of Minnesota-Crookston?
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 $506,877 in decade earnings vs $557,684 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of Minnesota-Crookston's Plant Sciences program stand out?
Ranked #7 of 50 programs nationally, University of Minnesota-Crookston lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.