Agricultural Business and Management at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Starting at under $32,000 a year—about $17,000 below the national median for agricultural business programs—these earnings place UAPB's program in the 5th percentile nationally. Even within Arkansas, where ag business graduates typically earn $42,564, UAPB trails by more than $10,000. The University of Arkansas produces graduates earning $54,783, nearly double what UAPB graduates start at. While the debt load is manageable at $20,380, the weak starting salary means you're still looking at a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64.

The program does show 12% earnings growth to $35,672 by year four, but that's still substantially below what graduates from other Arkansas schools earn right out of the gate. Keep in mind these figures come from a small graduating class (under 30 students), which can make the data less reliable—a few outliers significantly skew results either direction.

For families considering this program, the financial picture is challenging. UAPB serves a predominantly low-income student population (67% receive Pell grants), and while the school provides access, the earnings outcomes suggest graduates may struggle to reach typical agricultural business salary levels. If your child is set on ag business in Arkansas, the data strongly suggests looking at other state options where starting salaries are $10,000-$20,000 higher.