Agriculture at South Dakota State University

South Dakota State's agriculture program consistently outperforms the national market, with graduates earning $49,781 in year one—placing this program in the 91st percentile nationally. That's $10,000 more than the typical agriculture graduate earns, a meaningful advantage in a field where starting salaries typically hover around $39,000. With just $20,000 in median debt, graduates face a manageable 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning they could theoretically pay off their loans in less than half a year's salary.

The modest 3% earnings growth over four years reflects agriculture's stable but measured salary progression rather than a weakness. At these income levels, graduates are well-positioned to handle their debt and build careers in agribusiness, production agriculture, or agricultural research. The school's 99% admission rate and relatively open enrollment mean most interested students can access this strong program.

For families considering agriculture degrees, this represents solid value. While it's the only ag program in South Dakota (making that 60th state percentile less meaningful), the national comparison tells the real story: SDSU graduates enter the workforce earning substantially more than their peers elsewhere. Given the manageable debt load and the program's clear advantage over national benchmarks, this is one of the stronger agriculture programs in the country by the numbers.