Agricultural Engineering: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Agricultural Engineering graduates earn a median $84,624 four years after finishing — $36,264/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,902/yr net price ($67,608 over four years), that pays back in about 1.9 years. Federal data pools 38 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 1,042 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Agricultural Engineering ranks #39 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 81% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cornell University | NY | $99,600 |
| 2 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln | NE | $96,908 |
| 3 | University of Maryland-College Park | MD | $93,440 |
| 4 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | CA | $92,603 |
| 5 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | IL | $89,400 |
| 6 | Iowa State University | IA | $88,576 |
| 7 | Clemson University | SC | $88,338 |
| 8 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | VA | $88,315 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | PA | $87,564 |
| 10 | Michigan State University | MI | $86,498 |
| 11 | Purdue University-Main Campus | IN | $86,306 |
| 12 | Texas A&M University-College Station | TX | $85,393 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.
How fast does Agricultural Engineering pay grow after graduation?
From $54,095 one year out to $84,624 four years out — a $30,529 climb, or 56% over three years. Both are federal medians of the same graduating cohorts, so the gap reflects real wage progression rather than a change in who is measured.
How many students graduate in Agricultural Engineering each year?
About 1,042 bachelor's graduates a year across 38 programs in the federal file. Cohort size matters when reading the median: a field this size averages across a wide range of employers, regions and job titles.