Agriculture at University of Missouri-Columbia

Mizzou's agriculture program shows first-year earnings of $42,145—above the state median of $37,766 and well ahead of other Missouri programs with reported outcomes. At an estimated $19,500 in debt based on similar programs at the school, graduates face a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46, meaning they'd owe less than half their first-year salary.

The earnings trajectory looks solid: $51,072 by year four represents 21% growth and suggests steady career progression in agriculture. This puts Mizzou in the 63rd percentile nationally for agriculture programs—not the highest earners, but comfortably above middle-of-the-pack. The combination of reasonable estimated debt and above-average earnings creates a financial picture that's more favorable than you'll find at most Missouri agriculture programs.

The caveat is that the debt figure comes from averaging other programs at Mizzou, not actual agriculture graduate outcomes, so individual results will vary based on how much students borrow. But even if actual debt ran somewhat higher, the earnings advantage Mizzou shows over peer programs would likely absorb that difference. For families concerned about agricultural career viability, this program demonstrates that the field can support graduates financially, especially at a flagship university with strong industry connections.