Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services at Mississippi State University

Mississippi State's horticulture program shows numbers that align with what you'd expect from an agricultural field—modest but stable. Similar bachelor's programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $44,751 with typical debt loads near $23,900, putting the debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.53. That's better than many bachelor's degrees, where students often carry debt equal to or exceeding their first-year salary.

The challenge here is that horticulture isn't typically a high-earning field, even with a four-year degree. Peer programs nationally cluster tightly around $45,000—there's not much variation even at the 75th percentile. This suggests the field has a fairly defined salary structure that doesn't reward credentials as dramatically as other majors might. The debt load, while reasonable compared to income, still represents a significant financial commitment for work that could potentially be accessed through shorter, less expensive pathways at technical schools.

For families considering this program, the key question is whether your child needs the bachelor's degree specifically for their career goals—perhaps for management roles, research positions, or running their own horticultural business. If the plan is hands-on growing or landscaping work, the debt might not justify the credential. The relatively low debt-to-earnings ratio offers some reassurance, but the ceiling on earnings in this field means there's limited room to quickly outgrow that debt burden.