Agricultural Public Services at Oklahoma State University-Main Campus

Oklahoma State's Agricultural Public Services degree graduates earn $41,043 their first year out—slightly below the national median of $43,778 but exactly at Oklahoma's state median. More importantly, this program manages to keep debt exceptionally low at $16,125, landing it in the 5th percentile nationally for debt (meaning 95% of similar programs carry higher debt loads). The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 is solid, meaning graduates owe less than 40% of their first year's salary—a manageable starting point for most families.

The earnings picture has some nuance: while this program ranks at the 60th percentile among Oklahoma schools, that comparison is limited since OSU is the only in-state option for this specific degree. Nationally, the 39th percentile placement suggests other schools produce slightly higher-earning graduates, but the debt advantage here matters. At many competing programs, students would graduate owing $3,000 to $5,000 more while earning only marginally better salaries.

For families considering this path, the value proposition is straightforward: you're getting reasonable agricultural sector earnings without the debt burden that typically accompanies bachelor's degrees. If your student is committed to public service work in agriculture and plans to stay in Oklahoma, the in-state tuition advantage combined with already-low borrowing costs makes this a financially sensible choice, even if it won't lead to top-tier earnings in the field.