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Botany/Plant Biology at Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
30 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
31
Optimistic
30
Base Case
27
Pessimistic
Earnings $34,442/yr (5% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Medium (20,400 openings/yr)
ROI 10.7x earnings multiple (4.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #2 of 3 Botany/Plant Biology programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Botany/Plant Biology graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $445K $450K $431K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.6x 10.7x 10.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.0x 4.1x 3.9x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 44% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 31 30 27

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$41,988
Out-of-state: $110,732 (4.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$72,660
-73% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,858
6.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $34,442 at Iowa State University come in 5% above the national median of $32,721 for Botany/Plant Biology programs.

The 10.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 49% task exposure — and the 3% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $18,858 debt-to-$34,442 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

With only 3 programs offering Botany/Plant Biology nationally, this is a niche field. Iowa State University ranks #2 among them.

About Iowa State University

Iowa State University accepts 89% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with 25,033 students enrolled in Ames, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at Iowa State University →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Biological scientists, all other $93,330/yr
Biological science teachers, postsecondary $83,460/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 3 schools offering Botany/Plant Biology →

Botany/Plant Biology at Other Schools

North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($33,009) California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt ($30,713)

Other Majors at Iowa State University

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($84,913) Computer Engineering ($79,182) Computer Science ($78,517) Construction Engineering ($77,845) Chemical Engineering ($76,184) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($75,036) Industrial Engineering ($74,310) Mechanical Engineering ($72,900)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Iowa State University's Botany/Plant Biology program score?
This program scores 30/100 — on the lower end for Botany/Plant Biology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Botany/Plant Biology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Botany/Plant Biology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 49% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →