Agricultural Public Services at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

With only one school offering this program in Tennessee and a very small graduating class, these numbers tell an uncertain story. That said, UT-Knoxville's Agricultural Public Services program shows a troubling pattern: graduates earning $43,324 initially see their income drop to $39,079 by year four—a 10% decline when most careers are gaining momentum. While the debt load is manageable at $19,500 (less than half of first-year earnings), the backwards earnings trajectory raises questions about career sustainability or whether graduates are transitioning out of the field.

The program sits near the national median for agricultural public services, which isn't necessarily encouraging given that this field generally produces modest earnings across the board. The $39,000 four-year mark is concerning for a flagship state university graduate, particularly one who likely could have pursued related programs in agriculture, natural resources, or environmental science that might offer steadier career progressions.

The small sample size means a few unusual career paths could skew these figures significantly—perhaps some graduates pursue graduate school or temporarily work in lower-paying extension or nonprofit roles before moving up. For parents, the key question is whether your student has a specific career plan in agricultural extension, policy, or education that justifies this path, because the data suggests this isn't a degree that naturally leads to growing earnings without intentional career management.