Agriculture, General at Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
33 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
34
Optimistic
33
Base Case
25
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,804/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Small (6,800 openings/yr)
ROI 10.5x earnings multiple (4.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #34 of 47 Agriculture, General programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Agriculture, General graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $479K $481K $452K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.5x 10.5x 9.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.4x 4.5x 4.2x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 39% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 34 33 25

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$45,744
Out-of-state: $108,000 (4.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$43,664
5% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,500
7.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,055
16% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Western Kentucky University's Agriculture, General program produces graduates earning $38,804/yr — within striking distance of the $40,365 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Agriculture, General programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Agriculture, General's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $22,500 represents roughly 7 months of the $38,804 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #34 of 47 Agriculture, General programs, Western Kentucky University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $45,055 are relatively flat compared to the $38,804 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Western Kentucky University

A 97% acceptance rate means Western Kentucky University is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 12,267 in Bowling Green, KY.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Kentucky University →

Top Career Paths

Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary $86,350/yr
Food scientists and technologists $85,310/yr
Animal scientists $79,120/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Agriculture, General at Other Schools

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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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Agriculture, General at Western Kentucky University?
A score of 33/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Agriculture, General. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Agriculture, General careers?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $451,740 in decade earnings vs $479,479 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →