Agriculture at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

SIU-Carbondale's agriculture graduates start at $39,700—right at the national median but troublingly below most Illinois agriculture programs. Among the five schools offering this degree in-state, SIU ranks in just the 25th percentile, with both Western Illinois and Illinois State placing graduates who earn $8,000-9,000 more annually. For a family weighing in-state options, that gap matters: over a decade, it represents roughly $80,000-90,000 in lost earnings compared to peers down the road.

The $18,000 debt load offers one bright spot—it's manageable and slightly below both state and national medians. The 0.45 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than half their first-year salary, a sustainable starting point for most agriculture careers. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year.

For Illinois families, this creates a real dilemma. SIU's 90% admission rate makes it accessible, but its agriculture program underperforms state alternatives where students have realistic admission chances. If your child can gain admission to Western Illinois or Illinois State, the earnings data suggests those programs deliver better returns. SIU-Carbondale works as a backup option with reasonable debt, but shouldn't be the first choice for agriculture in Illinois.