Agricultural and Food Products Processing at Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS · Public · Bachelor's Degree
62 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
63
Optimistic
62
Base Case
59
Pessimistic
Earnings $76,052/yr (22% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market Medium (14,700 openings/yr)
ROI 14.5x earnings multiple (5.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #1 of 2 Agricultural and Food Products Processing programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Agricultural and Food Products Processing graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $646K $635K $577K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.8x 14.5x 13.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.8x 5.7x 5.2x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 40% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 63 62 59

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$43,768
Out-of-state: $111,264 (5.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$71,532
-63% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,250
3.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$83,856
10% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $76,052 per year, Agricultural and Food Products Processing graduates from Kansas State University earn slightly above the $62,278 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 14.5x 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 — 36% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $23,250 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

With only 2 programs offering Agricultural and Food Products Processing nationally, this is a niche field. Kansas State University ranks #1 among them.

Earnings growth is modest: $76,052 to $83,856 over five years (10% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About Kansas State University

With 79% of applicants admitted, Kansas State University prioritizes broad access, enrolling 14,835 students in Manhattan, KS.

See all programs and financial aid at Kansas State University →

Top Career Paths

Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary $86,350/yr
First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers $59,330/yr
Agricultural inspectors $50,990/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Agricultural and Food Products Processing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Kansas State University

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

How does Kansas State University's Agricultural and Food Products Processing program score?
This program scores 62/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Agricultural and Food Products Processing graduates.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →