Agricultural Business and Management at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Cal Poly Pomona's Agricultural Business program shows concerning underperformance, with first-year earnings of $38,272 falling roughly $10,000 below both the national and California medians for this degree. Among the seven California schools offering this program, it ranks in just the 25th percentile—trailing peer CSU campuses like Fresno ($50,100) and Chico ($47,937) by significant margins. The $20,500 in median debt is actually reasonable compared to national norms, but the weak earnings make the financial picture less attractive than it initially appears.

The small sample size (fewer than 30 graduates tracked) means these numbers could shift substantially year to year, so they shouldn't be taken as definitive. However, the gap between this program and both state and national benchmarks is large enough to warrant serious questions. Cal Poly Pomona serves many first-generation and lower-income students (46% receive Pell grants), which makes strong earnings outcomes particularly important for families counting on a solid return.

If your child is committed to agricultural business in California, the data suggests looking closely at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo or Fresno State, where graduates earn $14,000-$15,000 more in their first year. Given the relatively open admission rate here, this isn't about selectivity—it's about program performance and industry connections that translate to better entry-level opportunities.