Plant Sciencesat University of Missouri-Columbia
Graduates earn $46,627/yr in their first year — about 9.0% above the national Plant Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $544K; scenarios range from $501K to $550K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Missouri
University of Missouri-Columbia's Plant Sciences graduates start at $46,627/yr — above the $42,710 national average, though not by a wide margin.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.6x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
Some AI exposure exists in Plant Sciences's typical career paths, with 45% 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 — $17,924 in median debt clears quickly against $46,627 in annual earnings.
At #18 of 50 Plant Sciences programs, University of Missouri-Columbia scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Earnings grow from $46,627 to $58,941 over five years — a 26% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.
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 Missouri'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 Missouri stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Missouri
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Missouri, 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 Missouri
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Plant Sciences at University of Missouri-Columbia?
A score of 51/100 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 $501,302 in decade earnings vs $549,595 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.