Agricultural Production Operations at Michigan State University

Michigan State's agricultural certificate produces first-year earnings of $35,978—nearly identical to the state median but surprisingly below the national average for similar programs. The $11,000 in debt creates a manageable 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off loans in under four months of gross salary. However, context matters: this is the only program of its kind tracked in Michigan, and with fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, these numbers could shift significantly with a larger sample.

The real concern is the 5th percentile national ranking. Most agricultural certificate programs nationwide produce similar first-year outcomes around $37,451, so MSU's below-average performance suggests either a different program focus or varying career paths among this small cohort. The manageable debt softens this weakness—graduates aren't overleveraged even if earnings disappoint relative to peer programs.

For families specifically interested in Michigan agriculture, this remains a low-cost credential from a respected land-grant institution. But given the small sample and below-average national performance, prospective students should investigate exactly what career outcomes recent graduates achieved and whether those align with their goals. The modest investment limits downside risk, but don't assume MSU's brand automatically translates to premium outcomes in this particular certificate program.