Agricultural Production Operationsat Utah State University
Graduates earn $47,297/yr in their first year — about 19.0% above the national Agricultural Production Operations average. Base-case 10-year earnings $512K; scenarios range from $478K to $514K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Utah State University
As a land-grant university, Utah State's identity is deeply rooted in agriculture, giving you access to extensive research farms and a faculty connected to the region's core industries. Your education won't be purely theoretical; you'll be immersed in the practical challenges of modern farming in the Intermountain West, from water resource management to livestock genetics. The program's strength lies in preparing you for the business and science of agriculture, not just the labor. This leads graduates into management and scientific roles with major regional producers or government agencies. The high AI risk score reflects the rapid automation of farm operations, so my advice is to focus your studies on the strategy side—agribusiness, data analysis, and sustainable systems—as these management skills are what will remain valuable as technology advances.
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 Utah State University'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 Production Operations
How Utah State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Utah State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Utah State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Agricultural Production Operations offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Agricultural Production Operations trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Agricultural Production Operations at Utah State University
How does Utah State University's Agricultural Production Operations program score?
This program scores 53/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Agricultural Production Operations graduates.
How vulnerable is Agricultural Production Operations to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Agricultural Production Operations careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 38% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does Utah State University rank so high for Agricultural Production Operations?
The #4 ranking out of 17 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.