Agriculture at Western Illinois University

Western Illinois University's agriculture program punches above its weight nationally—graduates earn $48,509 in their first year, landing in the 87th percentile among all agriculture programs nationwide. That's nearly $10,000 more than the national median and roughly $5,000 above what the top-quartile program typically delivers. The debt burden of $18,969 is reasonable, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.39, well within manageable territory for most families.

Within Illinois, the picture is more competitive but still solid. WIU sits close to the state median, essentially tied with Illinois State while significantly outperforming Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. The advantage over the national field suggests WIU has carved out strong regional employer relationships or program specializations that translate to real job market outcomes.

The concern is stagnation: earnings barely budge between year one and year four, rising just 1%. That could reflect the nature of entry-level agriculture careers in the region rather than program limitations, but it means graduates shouldn't expect the income progression common in many other fields. For families weighing this program, the value proposition is clear: strong starting wages with minimal debt make this a financially sound choice, particularly if your student plans to work in Illinois or the broader Midwest agriculture sector.