Program Analysis
University of Missouri-Columbia's Plant Sciences graduates start at $46,627/yr — above the $42,710 national average, though not by a wide margin.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.6x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
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.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $17,924 in median debt clears quickly against $46,627 in annual earnings.
At #18 of 50 Plant Sciences programs, University of Missouri-Columbia scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Earnings grow from $46,627 to $58,941 over five years — a 26% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.