Home › Washington State University › Agricultural Production Operations

Agricultural Production Operations at Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $56,743/yr (43% vs median)

AI Risk High (38% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (132,800 openings/yr)

ROI 10.4x earnings multiple (4.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #2 of 17 Agricultural Production Operations programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$548K	$543K	$503K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.5x	10.4x	9.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.7x	4.7x	4.3x
Probability of Field Employment	43%	39%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	60	60	55

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$51,988

Out-of-state: $116,292 (4.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$57,604

-11% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$17,395

3.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$61,477

8% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $56,743 per year, Agricultural Production Operations graduates from Washington State University significantly outpace the $39,807 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

The 10.4x 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 — 38% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $17,395 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #2 out of 17 programs, Washington State University's Agricultural Production Operations program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth is modest: $56,743 to $61,477 over five years (8% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About Washington State University

With 85% of applicants admitted, Washington State University prioritizes broad access, with 21,583 students enrolled in Pullman, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Washington State University →

Top Career Paths

Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary $100,830/yr

Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers $87,980/yr

Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary $86,350/yr

View all 10 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Agricultural Production Operations at Other Schools

Other Majors at Washington State University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Washington State University's Agricultural Production Operations program score?

This program scores 60/100, 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 Washington State University rank so high for Agricultural Production Operations?

The #2 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.

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