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Agricultural Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $75,434/yr (16% vs median)

AI Risk High (45% exposed)

Job Market Medium (18,700 openings/yr)

ROI 11.5x earnings multiple (4.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #8 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	$727K	$710K	$632K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.7x	11.5x	10.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.0x	4.8x	4.3x
Probability of Field Employment	73%	68%	51%
DegreeOutlook Score	66	65	63

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$61,912

Out-of-state: $146,776 (4.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$95,160

-54% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,125

4.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$80,460

7% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $75,434 at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University come in 16% above the national median of $64,972 for Agricultural Engineering programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Agricultural Engineering programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Agricultural Engineering's typical career paths, with 45% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 13% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $75,434 far exceeding the $26,125 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #8 of 21 Agricultural Engineering programs, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $80,460 are relatively flat compared to the $75,434 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

A 57% admission rate makes Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with 30,435 students enrolled in Blacksburg, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University →

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 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Agricultural Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?

A score of 65/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Agricultural Engineering field.

Will AI replace Agricultural Engineering careers?

With 45% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $632,019 in decade earnings vs $726,652 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →