Agricultural Public Services: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Agricultural Public Services graduates earn a median $54,152 four years after finishing — $5,792/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 11.7 years. Federal data pools 38 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 628 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Agricultural Public Services ranks #143 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 30% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | CA | $80,965 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | WI | $71,726 |
| 3 | University of Arkansas | AR | $54,454 |
| 4 | Texas A&M University-College Station | TX | $54,017 |
| 5 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus | OK | $52,747 |
| 6 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | TN | $52,060 |
| 7 | Texas Tech University | TX | $50,248 |
| 8 | University of Idaho | ID | $45,263 |
| 9 | University of Kentucky | KY | $42,612 |
| 10 | University of Wyoming | WY | $41,533 |
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 Public Services pay grow after graduation?
From $44,232 one year out to $54,152 four years out — a $9,920 climb, or 22% 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 Public Services each year?
About 628 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.