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Plant Sciences at University of Minnesota-Crookston

Crookston, MN · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $57,915/yr (36% vs median)

AI Risk High (45% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (103,300 openings/yr)

ROI 10.5x earnings multiple

Ranked #7 of 50 Plant Sciences programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$558K	$551K	$507K
Earnings Multiple	10.6x	10.5x	9.7x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	42%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	58	57	52

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$52,480

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$43,496

17% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,763

4.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$62,594

8% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates of University of Minnesota-Crookston's Plant Sciences program earn $57,915/yr in their first year — 36% above the $42,710 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Plant Sciences programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Plant Sciences's typical career paths, with 45% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.

At $19,763 in median debt against $57,915 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #7 of 50 nationally, this is a top-5% Plant Sciences program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $62,594 are relatively flat compared to the $57,915 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About University of Minnesota-Crookston

With a 58% acceptance rate, University of Minnesota-Crookston is moderately selective, a smaller institution with 1,650 students in Crookston, MN.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Minnesota-Crookston →

Top Career Paths

Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary $100,830/yr

Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers $87,980/yr

Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary $86,350/yr

View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Plant Sciences at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Minnesota-Crookston

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 Plant Sciences at University of Minnesota-Crookston?

A score of 57/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Plant Sciences field.

Will AI replace Plant Sciences careers?

With 45% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $506,877 in decade earnings vs $557,684 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes University of Minnesota-Crookston's Plant Sciences program stand out?

Ranked #7 of 50 programs nationally, University of Minnesota-Crookston lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →