Plant Sciences at Oregon State University

Oregon State's Plant Sciences program sits in an interesting position: it performs right at the state median but lags behind the national picture. Graduates earn $38,397 in their first year, about 10% below the national median for plant sciences programs. However, with only two Oregon schools offering this degree, that state median comparison is less meaningful than usual. The positive news is debt—at $25,096, this program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of comparable programs saddle students with more debt.

The earnings trajectory shows solid growth, climbing to $44,549 by year four (a 16% increase), which helps the financial picture considerably. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 is quite manageable, meaning graduates would dedicate roughly eight months of first-year salary to pay off their loans if they were aggressive about it. For a field that often leads to government, conservation, or agricultural industry work—sectors not known for explosive starting salaries—this is a reasonable trade-off.

The bottom line: this program won't produce dramatic early earnings, but the combination of modest debt and steady salary growth creates a workable financial foundation. Parents should understand their student is choosing a field with purpose over profit, but Oregon State makes that choice financially viable.