Plant Sciences at University of Florida

At Florida's flagship university, plant sciences graduates face a troubling reality: earnings that barely move over four years, hovering around $36,000. While the program ranks in the 60th percentile among Florida's plant sciences offerings, this is essentially meaningless—there's only one other program in the state, making this more of a default choice than a competitive achievement. Nationally, these graduates land in just the 23rd percentile, earning about $6,400 less than the typical plant sciences graduate elsewhere.

The saving grace here is exceptionally low debt. At $12,281, graduates carry roughly 40% less debt than the national median for this field, and with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34, the loan burden is manageable. This likely reflects UF's in-state tuition advantage rather than anything unique about the program itself. Still, paying off $12,000 while earning $36,000 is far easier than the alternative.

The real concern is the flat earnings trajectory. Most bachelor's degree holders see meaningful salary growth in their first years out of school, but these graduates don't. Whether this reflects career paths in agriculture, non-profit work, or limited advancement opportunities, parents should understand their child will likely need to pivot into adjacent fields—perhaps sales, research, or graduate school—to see meaningful income growth. UF's strong alumni network and research reputation could facilitate such transitions, but this specific degree appears to serve better as a stepping stone than a final destination.