Agricultural Business and Management at University of Arkansas at Monticello

First-year earnings of $36,543 place this program near the bottom nationally but closer to the middle among Arkansas agricultural business programs. While the estimated debt of $18,909—based on what similar bachelor's programs at UAM typically generate—keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio manageable at 0.52, graduates are earning roughly $12,000 less than peers at University of Arkansas and $6,000 below the state median for this major. That gap translates to real purchasing power, especially for graduates from a campus where half the students receive Pell grants.

The modest 10% earnings growth to $40,287 by year four suggests this program leads to stable but relatively flat-paying positions in agricultural operations or management. Comparable programs across Arkansas show a wide range—from nearly $55,000 at the flagship campus down to $32,000 elsewhere—indicating that institutional reputation and network matter significantly in this field. UAM falls in the lower half of this spectrum.

For families evaluating this investment, the debt level appears reasonable, but the earnings outcomes lag behind what other in-state options deliver. If your student has strong ties to the Monticello area or specific opportunities lined up through family agricultural operations, the lower debt load makes this workable. Otherwise, exploring agricultural business programs at Arkansas Tech or Arkansas State—both showing stronger early earnings—would likely provide better financial positioning after graduation.