Agricultural Business and Management at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
75 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
75
Optimistic
75
Base Case
67
Pessimistic
Earnings $52,778/yr (10% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (398,100 openings/yr)
ROI 16.1x earnings multiple (5.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #1 of 77 Agricultural Business and Management programs Top 1%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Agricultural Business and Management graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $736K $711K $630K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.6x 16.1x 14.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.9x 5.7x 5.1x
Probability of Field Employment 41% 37% 28%
DegreeOutlook Score 75 75 67

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$44,300
Out-of-state: $123,980 (5.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$62,496
-41% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,000
3.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$93,186
77% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's Agricultural Business and Management graduates start at $52,778/yr — above the $48,075 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Agricultural Business and Management programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Agricultural Business and Management's typical career paths, with 48% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 15% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $16,000 in median debt clears quickly against $52,778 in annual earnings.

Ranked #1 of 77 Agricultural Business and Management programs nationally, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo sits in the top 1% — one of the strongest programs in the country by financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $93,186 show a 77% jump from the $52,778 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Admission to California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is competitive, with 30% of applicants accepted, serving a student body of 21,521 in San Luis Obispo, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo →

Top Career Paths

Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr
Economists $115,440/yr
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers $87,980/yr
View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Agricultural Business and Management at Other Schools

Other Majors at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Agricultural Business and Management at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
This program scores 75/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Agricultural Business and Management nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Agricultural Business and Management careers?
With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $629,518 in decade earnings vs $736,360 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's Agricultural Business and Management program stand out?
Ranked #1 of 77 programs nationally, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo lands in the top 1%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →