Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $34,744/yr fall 19% below the $42,710 national median for Plant Sciences. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
The 13.7x 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 — 45% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $19,408 debt-to-$34,744 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
At #27 out of 50 programs, Texas A & M University-Kingsville's financial outcomes for Plant Sciences trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
Earnings growth from $34,744 to $54,535 over five years (57% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.