Agricultural Public Services at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Cal Poly's Agricultural Public Services bachelor's shows first-year earnings of $54,583—significantly above the national median of $43,778 for this major and ranking in the 95th percentile nationally. The estimated debt load of $19,500, based on the national median for similar programs at Cal Poly, translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36, which is quite manageable. Graduates typically see earnings climb to $73,829 by year four, a 35% increase that suggests strong career trajectory in agricultural policy, extension services, or community development roles.

The caveat here is that Cal Poly is the only California school reporting data for this program, making state-level comparisons impossible and confirming that graduate cohorts are small enough that the DOE suppressed the actual debt figures. That said, the earnings data is real and positions Cal Poly graduates well above their peers nationally. The selective 30% admission rate suggests this isn't an open-enrollment scenario, and the relatively low Pell percentage (18%) indicates the student body skews more affluent than many public universities.

For parents weighing this investment: the earnings performance is exceptional for this field, and the estimated debt burden appears reasonable even if the actual figure varies somewhat. The bigger question is whether your child is committed to the agricultural sector—this is a specialized degree that works best for students with clear career goals in rural development, ag advocacy, or public-facing roles in food and farming systems.