Agriculture at Delaware State University

Delaware State's agriculture program falls slightly below both national and state benchmarks, landing in the 40th percentile among Delaware's limited ag programs and 46th percentile nationally. Year-one graduates earn $38,873, about $400 less than typical agriculture grads in Delaware. However, the debt load of $23,625 is actually lower than the national median for ag programs, resulting in a manageable 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio. The 15% earnings growth to $44,609 by year four suggests graduates find their footing after those initial years.

The real story here is the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates means these numbers could swing dramatically year to year. For a student genuinely interested in agriculture and looking at Delaware State for other reasons (in-state tuition, specific research opportunities, campus culture), the financial picture isn't prohibitive. But if choosing purely on agricultural career outcomes, University of Delaware's program shows marginally stronger first-year earnings and likely benefits from a more robust alumni network in the state's ag sector.

This becomes a reasonable choice if your student already has ties to Delaware State or qualifies for substantial aid that would reduce the debt figure further. The earnings trajectory is positive, and agriculture remains a stable field. Just recognize you're working with limited data points, and the program performs near the middle of the pack rather than standing out financially.