Plant Sciences at Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Rutgers' Plant Sciences program starts graduates at $36,362—about $6,400 below the national median for this major. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes it hard to draw firm conclusions, but the limited data suggests this program lags behind most peer institutions. While it's the only Plant Sciences bachelor's program tracked in New Jersey, nationally it ranks in just the 23rd percentile for earnings, meaning roughly three-quarters of similar programs elsewhere post stronger first-year outcomes.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $17,881, graduates carry less than the national median ($20,500), creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49. That means students can reasonably expect to pay off their loans within a few years of graduation. For students considering agricultural or environmental careers—fields that often prioritize passion over paychecks—this reasonable debt load matters more than the earnings gap might suggest.

The core question is whether this program opens doors to the career paths your child wants. If they're committed to plant science and planning to stay in the region, Rutgers' strong agricultural network and research facilities could outweigh the modest starting salary. But if they're flexible on major or location, exploring programs at schools with stronger plant science earnings track records—or considering whether graduate school is the real goal here—would be worth the effort.