Soil Sciences at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Colorado State's soil sciences program sits in an unusual position: it ranks at the 60th percentile among Colorado programs but just the 19th nationally, which initially seems contradictory until you realize it's the only school offering this degree in the state. The real comparison point is the national landscape, where the program's first-year earnings of $46,287 lag behind the $50,408 national median by about $4,000.

The silver lining here is manageable debt—$21,750 puts graduates at a reasonable 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning they're borrowing less than half their first-year salary. Strong earnings growth of 26% over four years suggests the degree builds valuable skills that employers increasingly reward. However, even after that growth, graduates earn $58,257, which is solid but not exceptional for a technical agriculture degree.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, making these numbers potentially volatile year-to-year. A few high or low earners can skew the entire picture. For families specifically interested in soil sciences at a land-grant institution with strong agriculture programs, CSU remains the in-state choice. But if your student is choosing between soil sciences and related fields like agronomy or environmental science, compare earning outcomes across those programs too—soil sciences appears to start slower than some agriculture specializations. The degree pays off eventually, but patience and realistic first-year salary expectations matter here.