Agricultural Business and Management at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Carbondale, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
58 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
58
Optimistic
58
Base Case
50
Pessimistic
Earnings $40,194/yr (-16% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (398,100 openings/yr)
ROI 10.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #57 of 77 Agricultural Business and Management programs

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 $568K $560K $513K
Earnings Multiple 10.7x 10.6x 9.7x
Probability of Field Employment 41% 37% 28%
DegreeOutlook Score 58 58 50

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$52,976
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$64,708
-22% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
4.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,223
52% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $40,194/yr fall 16% below the $48,075 national median for Agricultural Business and Management. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 10.6x 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 — 48% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $15,000 in median debt against $40,194 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #57 out of 77 programs, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's financial outcomes for Agricultural Business and Management trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $40,194 to $61,223 over five years (52% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale has a 90% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 8,116 students in Carbondale, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale →

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 Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

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 Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's Agricultural Business and Management program score?
A score of 58/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Southern Illinois University-Carbondale trails the majority of Agricultural Business and Management programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Agricultural Business and Management to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Agricultural Business and Management careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 48% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Agricultural Business and Management earnings lower at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
Lower starting pay at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →