Intelligence Brief Sciences Sector
Agricultural Science
Bachelor's · 4 years
D+
Scorecard
- $66,750
- Median salary
- 5%
- Projected growth
- 40/100
- Difficulty
- 4
- Career paths
AI Resilience 62
Overall Score 45
CollegeRanker Degree Outlook Score™
42
out of 100 · C
Mixed Outlook
Composite of earnings, projected growth, demand gap, AI resilience, career breadth, and remote flexibility — CollegeRanker's proprietary degree outlook model.
Supply vs Demand
BalancedMarket Demand48
Graduate Supply52
Supply and demand roughly aligned — projected 5% occupational growth (as fast as average).
Salary Trajectory
~1.8%/yrModeled from BLS median wage and occupational growth. Dashed bars are forecast. Illustrative, not a guarantee.
Where Graduates Work
Common Employers
- Pfizer
- Merck
- Genentech
- National Labs
- Thermo Fisher
- Regeneron
Representative employers that commonly hire Sciences graduates — illustrative of where graduates concentrate, not a guarantee.
Industry Mix
- Pharma & Biotech 33%
- Research & Labs 24%
- Healthcare 16%
- Government 14%
- Other 13%
Estimated distribution of Sciences graduates across hiring industries.
Executive Summary
- Agricultural Science scores 45/100 (D+), reflecting a challenging profile among bachelor's programs.
- Median salary of $66,750 reflects moderate earning potential.
- Projected growth of 5% is below the national average.
- AI resilience score of 62 indicates moderate disruption risk across associated careers.
Agricultural Science scores 45/100 — D+. The strongest dimension is remote potential (35/100), followed by salary (33/100). The biggest challenge: growth (18/100).
Research Insights
- At Risk Future-proof
Agricultural Science faces headwinds for long-term value (43/100). Projected growth of 5% is below average. Graduates should develop skills that complement, not compete with, AI-driven workflows.
Score 43 /100 - Limited ROI
Agricultural Science offers a challenging ROI profile (39/100). Median earnings of $66,750 are below many peers.
Score 39 /100 - Narrow Career Breadth
Agricultural Science leads to a focused set of career paths (40/100). With 4 primary career trajectories, graduates benefit from clear direction but have less flexibility to pivot.
Score 40 /100
Decision Intelligence
Agricultural Science presents a more complex risk/reward profile. Outcomes are less predictable and depend heavily on specific career targeting and graduate school plans.
Who Benefits Most
Students who value career stability and meet the academic prerequisites. Students who pair this degree with internships and networking outperform peers. The moderate AI risk makes it important to specialize.
Who Should Think Twice
Individuals who dislike hands-on work or outdoor environments may find this degree unsatisfactory. Additionally, those expecting high immediate salaries or a straightforward path to career advancement might be disappointed.
Student Archetypes
- The Practical Learner Recommended
This type of student enjoys hands-on work and outdoor experiences, often coming from a farming background or strong interest in environmental issues.
Economic Importance
Agricultural science plays a crucial role in the agricultural sector, which is vital for food production and sustainability. Industries such as farming, food processing, and environmental consulting rely on agricultural scientists to improve crop yields, enhance sustainability practices, and ensure food safety.
Scorecard Analysis
Our proprietary scorecard evaluates degrees across five dimensions from BLS wage and growth data, O*NET work context, and standard education requirements.
Below-average earning
Below-average growth
Moderate barrier
Primarily in-person
Less competitive
Difficulty Score
40/100
Composite reflecting the combined demands of salary, growth, barrier, remote compatibility, and competition.
AI Resilience Assessment
Automation risk for careers linked to this degree.
Agricultural Science faces moderate AI disruption risk (62/100). While AI will automate routine components within many associated careers, core responsibilities still require human oversight and strategic thinking. Upskilling in AI collaboration tools is recommended.
- Domain expertise from this degree provides some protection against full automation.
- AI can handle routine reporting, data aggregation, and first-pass analysis in many associated careers.
- Risk factor: entry-level roles in fields linked to this degree may face headcount reduction as AI handles more data processing.
Intelligence Deep Dive
-
Reality Check
The agricultural science field is often competitive, with many graduates vying for a limited number of desirable positions. Moreover, the impact of automation and technology on traditional farming roles is reshaping the job landscape, requiring ongoing adaptation from professionals.
-
Hiring Market Signal
Currently, there is a steady demand for agricultural professionals, particularly in sustainability and environmental management roles. Employers are increasingly valuing candidates with practical experience and interdisciplinary skills.
-
Risk Factors
- Job market saturation in certain regions
- Potential student debt burden
- Geographic concentration of job opportunities
- Impact of climate change on agriculture
- Risk of automation in some agricultural roles
-
ROI Timeline
Graduates can typically expect to recoup their investment within 5 to 7 years, depending on starting salaries and any incurred student debt. Factors such as location and industry specialization can significantly influence this timeline.
What You'll Study
The curriculum in agricultural science is distinctive as it combines practical and theoretical knowledge across various disciplines such as soil science and agricultural economics. This comprehensive approach equips graduates with the skills necessary to address complex agricultural challenges effectively.
In an Agricultural Science program, you will typically start with foundational courses in biology, chemistry, and environmental science. As you progress, you'll delve into specialized subjects like agronomy, animal science, and agricultural economics. Hands-on experience is crucial; many programs include lab work, field studies, and internships that allow you to apply theoretical knowledge in practical settings.
Expect to engage in projects that may involve designing experiments, analyzing soil samples, or assessing agricultural practices. These experiences not only enhance your learning but also build valuable skills that are highly regarded in the job market.
Typical Curriculum
- Soil Science
- Crop Science
- Animal Science
- Agricultural Economics
- Plant Pathology
- Genetics
- Sustainability
- Research
Career Pipeline
From entry to executive.
Entry-Level
- Agricultural Technician
- Research Assistant
- Farm Management Assistant
- Agricultural Sales Representative
Mid-Career
- Farm Manager
- Agricultural Scientist
- Sustainability Specialist
Advanced
- Director of Agricultural Operations
- Chief Sustainability Officer
Pipeline Insight
Graduates typically start in entry-level roles that provide hands-on experience and industry exposure. Advancement often depends on gaining specialized skills, pursuing further education, or demonstrating successful project outcomes.
Career Outcomes
Graduates of Agricultural Science can pursue various career paths, including roles as Agricultural Scientists, Farm Managers, Agricultural Inspectors, and Sustainability Specialists. With a median salary of $66,750 and a projected job growth rate of 5%, demand for professionals in this field is driven by the need for sustainable practices and efficient food production as the global population grows.
- Agricultural Scientist
- Farm Manager
- Agricultural Inspector
- Sustainability Specialist
Compensation Context
The median salary of $66,750 reflects a balance of moderate demand and competition in the agricultural sector. Pay may vary based on geographic location, specific industry segments, and the level of expertise required in specialized roles.
Alternative Routes
Similar or competing pathways students consider alongside Agricultural Science:
- Environmental Science
- Agronomy
- Horticulture
- Sustainable Agriculture Certificate
- Agricultural Business Management
Getting In & Timeline
Typical time to complete: 4 years full-time
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Strong background in math and science
- Some programs may require SAT/ACT scores
Advice
To succeed, engage in internships and gain practical experience while studying. Networking in the agricultural community can also provide valuable opportunities.
Is This Degree Worth It?
This degree can pay off for those who are passionate about agriculture and willing to engage in continuous learning and adaptation. However, it may not be as rewarding for those seeking rapid financial returns or who are averse to outdoor work and hands-on experiences.
Schools With Strong Outcomes in Sciences
Ranked by median graduate earnings 10 years after enrollment. Schools grouped into tiers by outcome level.
Top Tier2schools
Strong Outcomes2schools
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Methodology & Data Sources
Every score, grade, and verdict on this page is built from a consistent framework designed to answer one question: what is the expected return on this degree?
Scorecard dimensions. We evaluate programs on five proprietary axes — Salary, Job Growth, Education Barrier, Remote/Online Compatibility, and Competition — each normalized to a 0–100 scale. The Overall Score is a weighted composite: salary (30%), job growth (20%), AI resilience (15%), barrier proximity (15%), competition inverse (10%), and career breadth (10%). Letter grades follow a standard scale from A+ (95+) down to F.
AI Resilience. Measures automation risk across the degree's associated career pathways. Each degree receives a category-level baseline adjusted upward for AI-adjacent fields (e.g., machine learning, computer science) and downward for fields with higher routine-task exposure. The score represents the degree's resistance to labor-market disruption, not a prediction of elimination.
Verdict scores. Future-Proof, ROI, and Career Breadth are secondary composites weighting AI resilience, growth, salary, barrier, and career count to answer specific decision questions: is this career durable (Future-Proof), financially worthwhile (ROI), and flexible (Career Breadth)?
Data sources. Salary and growth figures are drawn from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (O*NET) and the Occupational Outlook Handbook (2023–2033 projections). Education requirement data and work context scores come from O*NET 28.2. School-level earnings data is sourced from the Opportunity Insights Economic Tracker (median earnings 10 years after enrollment, based on federal tax records). Program rankings and school lists reflect CollegeRanker's proprietary classification and filtering methodology.
This page is built on disclosed, reproducible data. No affiliate bias, no survey-based rankings, no undisclosed weighting.
Data Behind This Page Updated 2025
Source datasets
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2023–2033 projections
- O*NET 28.2 — education requirements and work-context data
- Opportunity Insights — earnings 10 years after enrollment (federal tax records)
Methodology
Degrees are scored on five normalized axes — salary (30%), job growth (20%), AI resilience (15%), education barrier (15%), and competition (10%), plus career breadth (10%) — each on a 0–100 scale.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Salary and growth figures come from federal Bureau of Labor Statistics data — administrative wage records and official projections, not surveys.
- AI-resilience scores are computed from O*NET task and work-context data, applied consistently across every program.
- Every measure is normalized to a fixed 0–100 scale, so degrees are directly comparable.
Limitations
- BLS wage data reflect national medians; actual pay varies widely by region, employer, and experience.
- Job growth is a 2023–2033 projection, not a guarantee — labor markets shift with technology and the economy.
- AI-resilience is a directional estimate of automation exposure, not a prediction about any specific role.
- Figures describe typical outcomes for the field, not a promise for any individual graduate.
