Agriculture at North Dakota State University-Main Campus

North Dakota State's agriculture program posts impressive first-year earnings of $55,828—41% above the national median and even surpassing the 95th percentile nationally for ag programs. That kind of starting salary makes the $25,000 in typical debt (0.45 ratio) manageable, with graduates potentially clearing their loans within a year or two of focused repayment.

The catch? This data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances heavily influence these averages. It's also worth noting that while NDSU dramatically outperforms most agriculture programs nationwide, it sits at just the 60th percentile among North Dakota's two ag programs—Dickinson State's grads earn considerably less at $42,583, pulling down the state median. NDSU's accessibility (96% admission rate) means your child likely gets in, but the small cohort size suggests this isn't a mass-production program.

For a family weighing ag programs, NDSU delivers strong economic fundamentals with debt that won't haunt your child into their thirties. Just recognize these numbers represent a small group's outcomes, and individual results will vary more than they would in a larger program. If your student is committed to agriculture and prefers staying in the region, NDSU appears to be the stronger North Dakota option by a significant margin.