Plant Sciences at Auburn University

Auburn's Plant Sciences degree sits right at Alabama's median for the field, but that's not necessarily reassuring—it lands in just the 35th percentile nationally, with first-year earnings nearly $4,000 below the national median. The $20,500 debt load is manageable at 0.53 times first-year income, and the 25% earnings jump to $48,747 by year four suggests graduates find their footing as they gain experience in agricultural roles, field research, or related technical positions.

The tricky part is understanding what you're getting for that middling national standing. Auburn is a solid land-grant institution with strong agricultural programs, but Plant Sciences graduates here start well behind peers at top programs (75th percentile nationally earns $47,441—roughly what Auburn grads make after four years). With only two schools in Alabama offering this major, the state comparison is less meaningful than the national one. If your child is passionate about plant biology, agronomy, or agricultural science, this degree can work, especially given the low debt burden.

However, parents should be clear-eyed: this isn't a high-earning STEM field like engineering or computer science. The nearly $40,000 starting salary requires careful budgeting, and those who thrive will likely need to pursue specialized roles, advanced degrees, or pivot into adjacent fields like agricultural technology to substantially boost earnings.