Agriculture at North Carolina A & T State University

North Carolina A&T's agriculture program lands right in the middle for North Carolina—not impressive, but not problematic either given the context. That $32,301 first-year salary trails NC State's ag graduates by nearly $9,000 and sits $7,000 below the state median. However, the debt load tells a more favorable story: at $28,285, graduates carry about $5,000 more than the national median but less than the typical NC ag graduate, putting them in the 95th percentile nationally for keeping debt reasonable.

The trade here is clear—lower earnings but manageable debt burden. With a debt-to-earnings ratio under 1.0, graduates can realistically handle their loans even with that modest starting salary. For families where North Carolina A&T's admission profile and financial aid package (half of students receive Pell grants) make it an accessible option, this program won't saddle students with crushing debt like many others. The earnings gap matters, particularly if your child could get into NC State's stronger program, but this pathway keeps financial risk contained.

If your student is choosing A&T for reasons beyond just the agriculture program—affordability, campus fit, or admission accessibility—the ag degree won't derail their finances. Just understand they're likely starting their career at a lower salary tier than peers from competing programs.