Home › University of Nebraska-Lincoln › Applied Horticulture

Applied Horticulture at University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, NE · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $46,289/yr (13% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (28% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (408,500 openings/yr)

ROI 13.1x earnings multiple (4.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #3 of 9 Applied Horticulture programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Applied Horticulture graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$533K	$530K	$496K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.2x	13.1x	12.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.8x	4.8x	4.5x
Probability of Field Employment	42%	40%	35%
DegreeOutlook Score	63	62	59

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$40,432

Out-of-state: $110,992 (4.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$69,696

-72% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,648

5.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$56,741

23% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $46,289/yr, edging above the $40,808 national average for Applied Horticulture — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Applied Horticulture programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Applied Horticulture's typical career paths, with 28% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 7% gap from the optimistic case.

At $22,648 in median debt against $46,289 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

This program is one of 9 schools offering Applied Horticulture in our dataset — a specialized field with limited comparison points.

Earnings grow from $46,289 to $56,741 over five years — a 23% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Nebraska-Lincoln

University of Nebraska-Lincoln has a 77% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving 18,887 students in Lincoln, NE.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Nebraska-Lincoln →

Top Career Paths

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

Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary $86,350/yr

First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers $59,330/yr

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

Compare & Explore

Applied Horticulture at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Nebraska-Lincoln

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Applied Horticulture at University of Nebraska-Lincoln?

A score of 62/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Applied Horticulture field.

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