Agricultureat Western Illinois University
Graduates earn $48,509/yr in their first year — about 20.0% above the national Agriculture average. Base-case 10-year earnings $535K; scenarios range from $492K to $539K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Western Illinois University
At $48,509 per year, Agriculture graduates from Western Illinois University earn slightly above the $40,365 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
At 8.9x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.
AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The median debt load of $17,062 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Ranked #14 out of 47 programs, Western Illinois University's Agriculture offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
Earnings growth is modest: $48,509 to $58,204 over five years (20% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.
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 Western Illinois 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 Agriculture
How Western Illinois University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Western Illinois University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Western Illinois University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Agriculture offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Agriculture trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Agriculture at Western Illinois University
How does Western Illinois University's Agriculture program score?
This program scores 43/100 — on the lower end for Agriculture. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Agriculture to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Agriculture careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.