Agricultural Business and Management at University of Connecticut

UConn's agricultural business program hits a sweet spot that anxious parents should appreciate: manageable debt paired with solid earnings growth. At $23,000 in student loans, graduates carry roughly half their first-year salary in debt—a healthy ratio that puts this program in the 11th percentile nationally for debt burden. That's significant breathing room compared to many bachelor's programs where debt can equal or exceed annual earnings.

The earnings trajectory tells an encouraging story. While $45,435 starting out trails the national median by about $3,000, graduates see 14% income growth by year four, reaching nearly $52,000. Within Connecticut's limited agricultural business landscape (only six schools offer this program), UConn sits right at the state median, meaning it's a competitive in-state option. The moderate sample size suggests consistent outcomes across cohorts.

For a family evaluating this investment, the math works: your child would enter a field with steady demand, manageable monthly loan payments, and clear income progression. The program won't lead to Silicon Valley-style salaries, but that's not the agricultural sector's reality anywhere. What matters is that UConn graduates aren't saddled with outsized debt relative to what they'll actually earn—a fundamental test of program value that this degree passes comfortably.