Agriculture, General at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Carbondale, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
43 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
43
Optimistic
43
Base Case
35
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,700/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Small (6,800 openings/yr)
ROI 10.9x earnings multiple
Ranked #13 of 47 Agriculture, General programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Agriculture, General graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $583K $576K $522K
Earnings Multiple 11.0x 10.9x 9.8x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 39% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 43 43 35

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)
$63,031
59% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's Agriculture, General program produces graduates earning $39,700/yr — within striking distance of the $40,365 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Agriculture, General programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Agriculture, General's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 11% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $15,000 in median debt clears quickly against $39,700 in annual earnings.

At #13 of 47 Agriculture, General programs, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $63,031 show a 59% jump from the $39,700 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

A 90% acceptance rate means Southern Illinois University-Carbondale is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 8,116 students in Carbondale, IL.

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

Top Career Paths

Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary $86,350/yr
Food scientists and technologists $85,310/yr
Animal scientists $79,120/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Agriculture, General at Other Schools

Other Majors at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Agriculture, General at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
A score of 43/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Agriculture, General. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Agriculture, General careers?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $521,595 in decade earnings vs $583,453 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →