Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $28,227/yr fall 50% below the $56,146 national median for Agricultural Mechanization. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
With a 29.5x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 8% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Agricultural Mechanization career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At $9,000 in median debt against $28,227 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
A #10 ranking among 10 Agricultural Mechanization programs places University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
The $28,227-to-$62,021 earnings arc over five years reflects a 120% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.